Taipei: Former U.S. Secretary of the Army Christine Wormuth has praised Taiwan's commitment to increasing its defense spending to 3 percent of GDP, highlighting the move as a demonstration of Taiwan's commitment to self-defense.

According to Focus Taiwan, Wormuth, who served as the U.S. Secretary of the Army from 2021 to early 2025, made her remarks during the Taiwan-U.S. defense industry forum held in Taipei. She acknowledged Taiwan's recent pledge to raise its defense budget and the adoption of a whole-of-society approach to self-defense as a strategic message to Washington, emphasizing Taiwan's commitment to its defensive responsibilities.

In 2025, Taiwan's Cabinet allocated NT$647 billion (US$19.7 billion) for defense, representing 2.45 percent of GDP. However, this budget faced reductions and freezes by the opposition-controlled Legislature. In response, President Lai Ching-te promised to propose a special budget to raise defense spending to over 3 percent of GDP, pending legislative approval.

This pledge comes amidst U.S. President Donald Trump's comments on Taiwan's defense spending. Trump has suggested that Taiwan should increase its defense budget to 10 percent of GDP and compensate the U.S. for protection, following accusations that Taiwan "stole our chip business."

Wormuth, the first female U.S. Secretary of the Army, has extensive experience in the U.S. Department of Defense. She highlighted the bipartisan consensus in Washington regarding the challenges posed by China, which are not only significant for Taiwan but also for the broader Indo-Pacific region.

Over the past two decades, the U.S. military's focus on the Middle East allowed China to modernize its military and engage in coercive actions in the Indo-Pacific, including incursions into Taiwan's air defense identification zone. Wormuth emphasized the importance of strengthening the deterrence posture of Taipei and Washington to maintain the status quo.

The 2025 Taiwan-U.S. Defense Industry Forum, where Wormuth spoke, was co-hosted by the US-Taiwan Business Council. The event aimed to explore potential U.S.-Taiwan collaborations in drones and unmanned vehicles. Other speakers included Chris Decker, president of Planate Management Group, and Stayne Hoff, Asia-Pacific business development director at Red Cat Holdings. The event was led by US-Taiwan Business Council President Rupert Hammond-Chambers.