When asked if he would defend Taiwan against China, Trump said Taiwan should pay for US And Taiwan's foreign affairs ministry had this to say.

While Taiwan seems quick to defend the strength of the two countries' relations, Trump's comments are a little surprising, considering Taiwan spent over 18 billion US dollars on US military equipment during Trump's term as president, something the US State Department has also reiterated.

Those comments from the premier and the foreign ministry both allude to Taiwan strengthening its own capabilities.

This year, Taiwan is spending 2.5% of its gross domestic product on defence, the highest figure ever, and has been investing heavily in domestically made military equipment and training.

Taiwan's recent efforts to become more self-sufficient militarily could be crucial moving forwards, as reliance on a possible Trump-administered US for defence support feels a little less certain.

Ryan Wu and Rhys Ayres in Taipei for Taiwan Plus.