Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen said she is confident the U.S. would come to the island’s defense if China tried to invade, a comment bound to irk Beijing as it continues to clash with Washington on cross-strait ties.
"I do have faith given the long-term relationship that we have with the U.S. and also the support of the people of the U.S. as well as the Congress,” she said in an interview with CNN that aired Thursday. "The administration has been very helpful.”
Tsai added that the "threat from China is increasing every day” and confirmed the presence of U.S. troops in Taiwan, although said there were "not as many as people thought.”