Taiwan opens up about U.S. security cooperation ahead of Xi-Trump summit

With a month to go before U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping meet in Washington for a highly anticipated summit, U.S. security ties with Taiwan are thriving — at least according to Taipei.

Despite fears that the U.S. president could turn his back on Taiwan, halt arms sales or back off from other aid measures in favor of reaching a grand bargain on a trade deal or other agreement with Xi during their planned Sept. 24 meeting in Washington, the democratic island’s leaders have been putting out a consistent message: the relationship is on solid ground.

Taking a page from the Trump administration, Taiwan’s government has touted “peace through strength,” laying out an 18% hike in defense spending for next year, including for drones and missiles, taking it above 1 trillion New Taiwan dollars ($31.4 billion) for the first time as Taipei bolsters its military to ward off China.