Taiwan Current News (TCN), in partnership with the German Marshall Fund (GMF) of the United States, has launched a new podcast series in 2026, Taiwan Frontlines, to track global trends and explore how Taiwan connects to the world.In the latest episode, former US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan addressed Taiwan's defense needs and the limitations of US military production in a candid interview with Bonnie Glaser and Jason Hsu.As debate intensifies in Taiwan over defense spending and military preparedness, Sullivan sent a clear message cross-strait stability depends heavily on Taiwan’s own actions. Deterrence starts at homeAddressing Taiwan’s ongoing domestic debate over defense budgets, Sullivan emphasized that building credible self-defense capabilities is essential.“That requires investment through a defense budget,” he said, adding that Taiwan must commit resources “at scale and with speed” to develop sustainable and well-resourced defensive capabilities. He also noted that modern warfare is evolving rapidly, requiring Taiwan to rethink how it invests in defense. Technologies that were relevant just five years ago may no longer be sufficient, underscoring the need for continuous adaptation.From Washington’s perspective, Sullivan said, the United States has its own role to play in maintaining regional deterrence — but Taiwan must also demonstrate seriousness in preparing for its own defense.“The magnitude of investment needs to match what I’ve seen put forward,” Sullivan noted, signaling strong support from the highest levels of US strategic thinking. On March 26, 2026, Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and National Defense, sitting with the Finance Committee, completed its review of the special defense budget bills. The bills include the Executive Yuan’s proposed eight-year, NT$1.25 trillion special act, along with competing versions from the Kuomintang (KMT) and the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP). Nearly all provisions were reserved for party caucus negotiations and have yet to advance to the second or third reading in the full Legislative Yuan.“This is our responsibility”On the long-standing issue of delayed US weapons deliveries to Taiwan, Sullivan offered one of the most direct acknowledgments to date — placing the responsibility squarely on Washington.“This is our responsibility — not Taiwan’s or anyone else’s,” he said. Sullivan revealed that upon taking office, he was “surprised” by the condition of the US defense industrial base, a weakness that became fully exposed following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.According to Sullivan, the US lacks sufficient production capacity and stockpile depth to meet both its own military needs and its commitments to partners like Taiwan in a timely manner. The country’s industrial ecosystem, he said, is not yet equipped to scale up production quickly — leading to significant delays in arms deliveries.Can the US catch up?Despite these challenges, Sullivan stressed that Washington is actively working to fix the problem.During his tenure, the US government invested heavily in expanding defense production capacity, laying the groundwork for faster manufacturing and delivery timelines. He expressed cautious optimism that, in the coming years, the United States will be able to accelerate delivery of key systems to Taiwan.“This is absolutely essential,” Sullivan said, not only for meeting commitments to Taiwan but for maintaining US credibility globally. He also pointed out that strengthening the defense industrial base has become an area of bipartisan consensus in Washington, with continued efforts across administrations — including those carried forward under Donald Trump.A message of reassuranceUltimately, Sullivan delivered a message aimed directly at Taiwan: while delays are real, so too is US commitment.“This is on us. We have to do it. We should do it. I believe we can do it,” he said.For more in-depth coverage, listen to Taiwan Frontlines on NOWNEWS's official YouTube channel.