TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Kenneth Weinstein, Japan chair at the Hudson Institute, urged Taiwan to boost its defense spending in an interview with Jiji Press.

Weinstein said on Sunday that Taiwan faces a greater threat than Japan and should raise its defense spending from 2% to 5% of its GDP.

He said a Chinese invasion in the near future is unlikely but remains a constant risk. Chinese leader Xi Jinping (習近平) does not want to anger US President Donald Trump, Weinstein added. China’s economy has not fully recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic, and US tariffs will make a rebound even more difficult. If China were to invade Taiwan, Xi would be taking on an even greater risk, he said.

Weinstein added that Trump will do everything in his power to prevent Xi from using force to seize Taiwan. If China dares to attack, the US will respond decisively, he said.

A contingency involving Taiwan or Japan affects Tokyo’s interests more directly than Washington’s, Weinstein said. He pointed out that for Japan to recognize that it bears primary responsibility for its own defense is a significant step forward.  

In a US-Japan joint statement issued in February, Japan reaffirmed its commitment to “fundamentally reinforce its own defense capabilities.”