Trump Plans to Speed Up Arms Supplies to Taiwan: Waltz

"We have over a $20 billion backlog of things that they paid for and that we need to work hard to free up and have them get what they paid for as a deterrent measure," he said on Tuesday, commenting on the situation around Taiwan at the US Institute of Peace in Washington, TASS reported.

Additionally, according to Waltz, Trump intends to "really continue to reinforce those partnerships and alliances" in the Asia-Pacific region. He gave high marks to the outgoing US administration for its effort in "the trilateral dialog between South Korea, the United States and Japan, and then also between the United States, Japan and the Philippines." He also noted that the US’ ties with India are "a critical partnership in the future."

Taiwan has been governed by its local administration since 1949 when the remaining Kuomintang forces led by Chiang Kai-shek (1887-1975) fled to the island after being defeated in China’s civil war. Since then, Taiwan has preserved the flag and some other symbols of the Republic of China that had existed in mainland China before the Communists came to power. Beijing regards the island as one of its provinces and this position is supported by most countries, including Russia.

The US severed diplomatic relations with Taiwan in 1979 and established them with China. While recognizing the One China policy, Washington continues to maintain contacts with the island and supply it with weapons. According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, the total amount of US arms supplies to Taipei has surpassed $70 billion over recent years.