BEIJING (Reuters) - China's government on Wednesday implied that if Donald Trump wins the U.S. presidential election he could 'discard' Taiwan given the country's policy has always been "America first".
Trump, the Republican candidate who is neck and neck in the polls with Vice President Kamala Harris, has made several comments on the campaign trail saying Chinese-claimed Taiwan should pay to be protected and accusing the island of stealing American semiconductor business.
Asked about Trump's remarks earlier this month where said he would impose additional, massive tariffs on China if China were to "go into Taiwan" and remarks on Taiwan having to pay for protection, a spokesperson for China's Taiwan Affairs Office said Taiwan's people had a clear understanding of U.S. policy.
"Whether the United States is trying to protect or harm Taiwan, I believe most of our Taiwan compatriots have already made a rational judgement and know very clearly that what the United States pursues is always America first," Zhu Fenglian told a regular news briefing, referring to a common expression Trump uses about prioritising U.S. interests.
Taiwan's people know that "Taiwan at any time may turn from a pawn to a discarded child", she added, without directly using Trump's name.
The United States is bound by law to provide Taiwan with the means to defend itself even in the absence of formal diplomatic ties between Washington and Taipei.
Trump, in a weekend interview on "The Joe Rogan Experience" podcast, repeated his claims about Taiwan "stealing" U.S. chip business and needing to pay to be protected.
Taiwan Economy Minister Kuo Jyh-huei told reporters in Taipei on Wednesday he would not be commenting given the U.S. election campaign was ongoing.
"I wish the United States well for a successful democratic election," he added.
Taiwan received strong backing from Trump's 2017-2021 administration, including arms sales, which have continued under the government of President Joe Biden.
Taiwan's democratically elected government rejects Beijing's sovereignty claims, saying only the island's people can decide their future.
(Reporting by Joe Cash; Writing and additional reporting by Ben Blanchard in Taipei; Editing by Lincoln Feast.)
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