US announces deeper co-operation with Taiwan's military

WASHINGTON announced deeper co-operation with Taiwan’s military today just a week after US President Joe Biden threatened to strike against China in defence of the island.

Taiwanese President Tsai Ing Wen said the US Department of Defence was “now proactively planning co-operation between the US National Guard and Taiwan’s defence forces.”

She made the remarks in a meeting with US Senator Tammy Duckworth, the latest representative from Washington to visit Taiwan as it continues to ratchet up tensions with China.

Ms Duckworth was one of the main sponsors of the Taiwan Partnership Act which has been passed by the US Congress with bipartisan support, although it has not yet become law.

“We look forward to closer and deeper Taiwan-US co-operation on matters of regional security,” Ms Tsai said.

Ms Duckworth said she was in Taiwan to show that the US stands firmly with the island in the face of what she said were threats from China.

“In the near future, we look forward to Taiwan and the United States working together in taking new steps to develop concrete plans that further deepen our economic partnership,” she said.

On Monday, Taiwan accused China of carrying out the second-largest operation into the island’s air defence identification zone (Adiz) this year, with 30 jets entering the area.

It said it had scrambled jets and deployed air defence missile systems in response.

The Adiz overlaps with part of China’s own air defence identification zone and covers part of the mainland. Beijing insists that it is within its rights to carry out such operations.

Last week, China’s military said it had recently conducted an exercise around Taiwan as a solemn warning against its collusion with the US.

Mr Biden said at a recent meeting in the Japanese capital Tokyo that the US would be prepared to respond militarily against China should it invade Taiwan.

It was the second time he had made such remarks, with the White House insisting there was no change in the longstanding US policy of “strategic ambiguity” regarding Taiwan.

Relations between the US and China have deteriorated in recent years with clashes over Taiwan, Hong Kong and the South China Sea.

Washington has mobilised warships to the disputed waters and has allegedly had elite soldiers deployed on clandestine operations in Taiwan since at least 2020.

China deems Taiwan to be an integral part of its territory.

SOURCE:- morningstaronline.co.uk