Lai Ching-te said Sunday that arms purchases from the United States remain “the most important deterrent” against regional conflict and instability, following remarks by Donald Trump questioning continued American support for Taiwan after his recent visit to China.

Lai stressed that U.S. arms sales to Taiwan and broader security cooperation are not only grounded in law but also serve as a “catalyst for regional peace and stability,” the Associated Press reported.

“We thank President Trump for his continued support for peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait since his first term, including the continuous increase in the scale and amount of arms sales to Taiwan,” Lai said.