At a security forum in Taipei, former U.S. ambassador to the U.N. Kelly Craft advised Taiwan to step up its defense spending and improve its infrastructure to ensure peace in the Taiwan Strait.
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00:00The annual Taipei Security Dialogue is bringing together international leaders and experts
00:05to discuss the Asia-Pacific's biggest topic, China's threat to Taiwan.
00:10Former U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Kelly Craft gave a keynote speech praising Taiwan's commitment
00:15to democracy in contrast to China.
00:18Beijing wants the world to believe that freedom and Chinese culture are incompatible.
00:24The Chinese people value order over liberty and prosperity over democracy.
00:32Taiwan is showing the world that democracy is the path to prosperity, that when freedom
00:39and Chinese culture mix, they produce a kind of dynamic, prosperous civilization we see
00:46here today.
00:47During her time as ambassador to the U.N., Craft had met with Taiwan's former president
00:51Tsai Ing-wen and also advocated for Taiwan's inclusion in the U.N.
00:56She was later sanctioned by Beijing for doing so.
00:59With U.S. elections looming, Craft, who was appointed by former U.S. President Donald
01:04Trump, also offered her advice on what a potential second Trump presidency could look like.
01:10The secret to getting along with Donald Trump is doing your part and carrying your weight.
01:16If you're willing to do that, he will be the most reliable friend and ally you can
01:21imagine.
01:22Craft stressed the importance of Taiwan's self-reliance, strengthening its defense capabilities,
01:27increasing military personnel and improving training, in line with Trump's stance on the
01:31U.S.-Taiwan partnership.
01:33With only two months left before the U.S. presidential elections, Taiwan will be eagerly
01:38awaiting to find out who will be leading its biggest unofficial ally.
01:42Klein Wong and Tiffany Wong in Taipei for Taiwan Plus.