JD Vance has suggested stability in the Indo-Pacific and supporting Taiwan should be a higher priority for the U.S. than military aid to Ukraine.
The Ohio Senator and vice presidential candidate, who is skeptical of military support for Ukraine, said that Taiwan's economy meant it was more important to American interests.
In an interview with comedian and podcast host Tim Dillon, released on Saturday, Vance said that supporting Ukraine had become a less critical element of U.S. foreign policy, given the mounting threats posed to Taiwan and its more important role in the global economy.
"Ukraine is not nearly as important to us as other regions of the world, right? Just putting my cards on the table," Vance said. "Taiwan makes so much of the computer chips, right? Which is such a driver of all economic growth, that if the Chinese took over Taiwan, it would be really bad for us."
Taiwan is the global leader in semiconductor manufacturing, the country's firms accounting for around half of the global market share, according to ShipHub.
Vance said that the significance of this market, along with the growing threat of Taiwan potentially falling under Chinese control, had made the issue a top priority for the U.S.
In mid-October, Beijing mobilized its navy and armed forces to conduct military exercises around the island nation, which included staging a blockade of the country, following a pro-independence speech from Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te.
The drills, viewed as a rehearsal for invasion, raised concerns in Washington, with State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller calling on Beijing to "act with restraint and to avoid any further actions that may undermine peace and stability."
On Friday, the Department of Defense (DOD) announced that it had greenlit $2 billion in arms sales to Taiwan. The package includes three National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS) and related components for a total of $1.16 billion, as well as $828 million worth of radar systems.
"This proposed sale serves U.S. national, economic, and security interests by supporting the recipient's continuing efforts to modernize its armed forces and to maintain a credible defensive capability," the DOD said in its press release.
This followed the decision by the Biden administration in late September to free up $567 million in military aid and logistical support for Taiwan, a move which Beijing's Foreign Ministry said would "backfire" for the U.S.
Vance previously claimed that Taiwan had been left in a "crappy position" by the U.S., telling podcast host Shawn Ryan that the country was underprepared for a possible invasion because American "sent all our weapons to Ukraine."
The Ohio Senator has advocated a negotiated settlement in the Ukraine conflict which the Harris campaign previously described to Newsweek as a "surrender plan" for Kyiv.
Newsweek has reached out to the White House for a response to Vance's statements.
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