According to the Taipei Times, a delegation led by John Hamre, president of the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), visited Taiwan, with both sides focusing discussions on defense cooperation, economic security, and the regional situation.
When receiving the delegation, President Lai Ching-te stated that Taiwan stands on the front line of the democratic defense line. Whether it is Taiwan’s national security, peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific, or the development of global democracy, the Taiwanese people firmly believe that “peace relies on strength, and strength is the safeguard of peace.”
CSIS President John Hamre expressed that he is pleased to see Taiwan’s significant progress and believes that the Taiwanese people clearly understand the importance of self-defense.
Taiwan on the front line of democracy
According to a report by the Central News Agency, CSIS President John Hamre led a group of experts and scholars on a visit to Taiwan. During the meeting on April 21, President Lai Ching-te stated that Taiwan is on the front line of the democratic defense line, and that the threat of authoritarianism is part of daily life for the Taiwanese people.
He said CSIS acts like a powerful spotlight, helping the world understand that peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait are crucial to global prosperity through precise war games, political analysis, and international publications. Its long-standing attention has ensured that Taiwan is not isolated internationally and has made authoritarian regimes more cautious.
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Lai Ching-te emphasized that whether it concerns Taiwan’s national security, peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific, or the development of democracy worldwide, the Taiwanese people firmly believe that “peace depends on strength, and strength is the moat that protects peace.” He added that Taiwan is actively strengthening its national defense capabilities and building whole-of-society resilience.
According to NATO standards, Taiwan’s defense budget this year exceeds three percent of GDP and is expected to reach five percent in the future. To demonstrate Taiwan’s determination to defend itself and safeguard peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific, the government has proposed an eight-year, US$40 billion special defense budget to accelerate procurement and modernization of military equipment.
CSIS President: Pleased to see Taiwan’s significant progress
John Hamre stated that during every meeting on his visit to Taiwan three years ago, two questions were always raised. Taiwanese representatives would ask: “Will the United States come to defend Taiwan?” while U.S. representatives would ask: “Will Taiwan be prepared for self-defense?”
On this visit, he expressed that he is very pleased to see that under President Lai’s leadership, Taiwan has made significant progress and has demonstrated a major commitment to strengthening its self-defense capabilities.
Hamre also noted that U.S. Indo-Pacific Commander Admiral Samuel Paparo understands that Taiwan is a very important partner of the United States, and therefore actively promotes cooperation in many key areas.
Hamre further said he is pleased to see the progress made under President Lai over the past two years. Although there is still much work to be done—including the fact that the Legislative Yuan has not yet completed its review of the defense procurement budget—he remains hopeful. He believes that the Taiwanese people clearly understand the importance of self-defense, and that better preparation leads to stronger deterrence.
Joint efforts to build a ‘non-red’ supply chain
On April 20, Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung met with the CSIS delegation, exchanging views on Taiwan–U.S. relations and third-country economic cooperation.
Lin said Taiwan is continuously expanding investment in key emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, next-generation communications, and defense innovation.
“This strategy is designed not only to strengthen Taiwan’s economic resilience, but also to work with international partners to jointly build a secure, trustworthy, and highly resilient ‘non-red’ supply chain.”
Hamre responded that Taiwan–U.S. relations are developing steadily, and that Taiwan is not only an important economic and technological partner of the United States but also plays an indispensable role in global supply chains.
Concerns about delays in defense budget
In addition, Democratic Progressive Party Secretary-General Hsu Kuo-yung met with the CSIS delegation on the 20th, discussing Taiwan–U.S. relations and domestic political affairs in depth.
According to Newtalk, Hsu expressed concern over the Legislative Yuan’s handling of budget reviews, warning that if some opposition figures delay the defense budget in line with Beijing’s political agenda, Taiwan may miss a critical window to strengthen its defense capabilities.
Hsu emphasized that the special defense budget and the central government budget are directly tied to Taiwan’s defense capabilities, as well as economic stability and the Taiwan–U.S. strategic partnership. He noted that public opinion polls show 70 percent support for increasing defense spending, indicating broad societal consensus on strengthening self-defense.
He also thanked the U.S. Congress for assisting, through delegation visits and written communications, in helping opposition parties understand the importance of the defense budget proposal.
By Li Jingyao
