Since Donald Trump said in an interview with Bloomberg that he thought "Taiwan should pay us for defense.", the Taidu and Dutai advocates have been busy arguing whether the word "defense" should be translated as "防禦費" or "保護費"  What a fuss it was!

Those Taidu advocates are not happy with the translation "保護費"; nevertheless, the meaning of "defense" is "the act of protecting sb/sth from attack, criticism, etc.", according to the Oxford. So the key word is "protecting", and there is nothing wrong with translating it as the "保護費" paid to the US. Otherwise, why should the US have to protect a third party for nothing? For justice? Dont make me laugh!

The cruel truth is the weapons Taiwan bought from the US are junk when compared with the sophisticated counterparts of Mainland China, and the US will not take part in the conflict across the strait when it occurs. So, whatever the translation to the word "defense" is, it will be lip service from the US and a self-comfort for Taiwan.