Taipei: Taiwan should consider substantial arms purchases from the United States and foster job creation through semiconductor investments to address U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's concerns, according to an American scholar.

According to Focus Taiwan, Thomas J. Shattuck, a senior program manager at the University of Pennsylvania's Perry World House policy research center, emphasized that these actions could help Taiwan reduce Trump's complaints and mitigate fears of being used as a bargaining chip. Shattuck suggested that assembling a multi-billion dollar U.S. arms purchase within the first six months would be an effective way for Taiwan to show that it understands Trump's concerns.

Shattuck pointed out that Taiwan should remind Trump that it spends more on defense than NATO allies, surpassing NATO's target of 2 percent of GDP, a point Trump has previously highlighted. During his campaign, Trump accused Taiwan of "stealing" U.S. chip business and insisted that Taiwan should compensate for defense.

During Trump's first term, from 2017 to 2021, these accusations were not made, causing concern among Taiwanese lawmakers regarding a potential second Trump term. However, Shattuck asserted that Trump and his team recognize the strategic importance of maintaining strong alliances with Taiwan.

Shattuck noted that Trump's administration has appointed "very pro Taiwan" figures, such as Senator Marco Rubio for U.S. Secretary of State, indicating that Taiwan will likely not be sacrificed for a trade deal with China. He argued that in the ongoing power dynamics between the U.S. and China, Taiwan's geographical location helps to contain China.

In conclusion, Shattuck, also a non-resident research fellow at the Global Taiwan Institute and the Foreign Policy Research Institute, suggested that U.S. strategic interests in the region should deter Washington from making any concessions that could compromise Taiwan's status.