President Donald Trump’s call for Taiwan to increase its defense spending to 10% of GDP has received a rare public endorsement from his own nominee to lead the Pentagon. In testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee on October 7, 2025, retired General Mark Chen affirmed that such a level of investment would “demonstrate serious strategic resolve” and align with U.S. expectations for partners facing direct military threats. The remarks mark a significant escalation in Washington’s rhetorical support for Taiwan’s self-defense amid rising tensions with China.
Currently, Taiwan spends approximately 2.5% of its GDP on defense already among the highest in Asia but Trump has repeatedly argued it should do far more, especially given its proximity to China’s growing military capabilities. General Chen, a former Indo-Pacific Command deputy, stressed that “deterrence isn’t free” and that allies must “bear a fair share of the burden.” His comments come just days before Taiwan’s National Day, a moment of heightened symbolism as Beijing ramps up diplomatic and military pressure on the island. The Pentagon nomination is still pending Senate confirmation, but his alignment with Trump’s stance signals a potential hardening of U.S. policy.
Analysts say the timing is no coincidence. With China already fuming over Taiwan President Lai Ching-te’s recent praise of Trump calling him a “prostitute” in unusually vitriolic language Washington’s renewed emphasis on defense spending serves as both reassurance to Taipei and a warning to Beijing. “This isn’t just about budgets,” said Dr. Elena Ruiz, a security fellow at the Atlantic Council. “It’s about signaling that the U.S. sees Taiwan as a frontline partner in a long-term strategic contest.” In Taipei, officials have not yet responded publicly to the 10% proposal, but defense circles acknowledge the political and economic challenges of such a leap.
Yet even as budgets are debated in Washington and Beijing, Taiwan is quietly modernizing its asymmetric defense strategy investing in drones, coastal missiles, and civil defense networks. A youth initiative at National Chengchi University recently launched a simulation lab to model hybrid warfare scenarios, training students in cyber-resilience and crisis communication. “We can’t control what others say about us,” said Lin Wei, a defense policy advisor involved in the project. “But we can control how ready we are.”
The 10% figure remains controversial. Economists warn it could strain social programs and slow growth in a society already grappling with aging demographics and housing shortages. Yet proponents argue that in an era of gray-zone coercion and naval standoffs, defense is not an expense it’s an insurance policy. As one retired Taiwanese naval officer put it: “We’re not buying weapons. We’re buying time for diplomacy to work.” In this fragile balance, every percentage point is a vote for sovereignty.
From Capitol Hill to the Taiwan Strait, words are turning into policy and policy into posture. As flags rise in Taipei for National Day, the island stands not just in celebration, but in preparation. The cost of freedom is high but the price of silence is higher.
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