The enhancement of military-to-military relations between Washington and Beijing “will not and does not come at the expense of our close partnership with Taiwan,” a senior US government official said on Monday.
“We have a very important relationship with Taiwan,” said Todd Chapman, the US’ principal deputy assistant secretary of state for political and military affairs.
Chapman made the remarks while delivering the keynote address at the US-Taiwan Defense Industry Conference in Williamsburg, Virginia, which started on Sunday and ended yesterday.
While the speech was closed to the press, the Taipei Times was informed of his remarks by several sources.
Chapman could be a key player in any future arms sales to Taiwan and is considered the most significant US Department of State official to attend the conference in more than 10 years.
He said that he lived and worked in Taiwan for two years starting in 1991 when he was assigned to Taipei by the US government. Chapman said it was a “tremendous” experience and that he still had “strong personal ties” to the nation. His second son was born in Taipei.
Washington’s aim in strengthening its partnerships in Asia — including with Taiwan — is to establish a stable security environment, and foster an open social and economic environment that respects human rights, he said.
Chapman said the goal was to enhance security, expand prosperity and advance democratic values and human dignity.
He said the US was boosting its military-to-military relationship with China and working to deepen substantive dialogue and to cooperate “more and more” on significant issues.
However, enhanced military ties with China do not come at the expense of the US’ close partnership with Taiwan, he said, adding that “as evidenced by this conference,” US-Taiwan relations “remain extremely strong.”
Chapman said that Taiwan’s role in the US’ “pivot” to Asia was to preserve peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. He said Washington has an abiding interest in peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and supported improving cross-strait relations “at a pace acceptable to the people on both sides.”
Taiwan serves as an excellent example of democracy to the region, with its high standard of living and civil society, excellent economy with world-class industries “and a competitive focus that is unmatched,” he said.
Chapman said that, in line with the US’ Taiwan Relations Act and the “one China” policy, Washington sold Taipei weapons for its defense, and this has contributed to the maintenance of peace and stability across the Strait.
He said that given regional developments, it is more important than ever for Taiwan to continue its defense-building efforts and provision of resources for a professional military force, as well as to use innovation and “every defensive advantage that Taiwan can muster” to deter potential attacks and attempts at coercion.
“We stand by those efforts and look forward to working with you [Taiwan] side by side,” he added.
Chapman said that the US’ commitment to Taiwan is intact and that within Washington, he had heard “nothing but praise” about the relationship.
On the sidelines of the conference, other sources said that US arms companies are showing “great interest” in Taiwan’s push to buy or build a fleet of diesel-electric submarines and might pressure the White House to cooperate.
“They [the firms] appeared anxious to help and to press the US government to allow submarine technology exports to Taiwan,” one participant said.
Democratic Progressive Party Secretary-General Joseph Wu (吳釗燮), who also delivered a speech at the summit, said that the general feedback he received from US participants had been “forthcoming and positive.”
Wu added that the images attendees had painted for him about security cooperation between Taiwan and the US were “very reassuring.”
The Republic of China (ROC) is celebrating its 114th Double Ten National Day today, featuring military parades and a variety of performances and speeches in front of the Presidential Office in Taipei. The Taiwan Taiko Association opened the celebrations with a 100-drummer performance, including young percussionists. As per tradition, an air force Mirage 2000 fighter jet flew over the Presidential Office as a part of the performance. The Honor Guards of the ROC and its marching band also heralded in a military parade. Students from Taichung's Shin Min High School then followed with a colorful performance using floral imagery to represent Taiwan's alternate name
COGNITIVE WARFARE: Chinese fishing boats transmitting fake identification signals are meant to test Taiwan’s responses to different kinds of perceived incursions, a report said Chinese vessels are transmitting fake signals in Taiwan’s waters as a form of cognitive warfare, testing Taipei’s responses to various types of incursions, a report by the Institute for the Study of War said on Friday. Several Chinese fishing vessels transmitted fake automatic identification system (AIS) signals in Taiwan’s waters last month, with one mimicking a Russian warship and another impersonating a Chinese law enforcement vessel, the report said. Citing data from Starboard Maritime Intelligence, the report said that throughout August and last month, the Chinese fishing boat Minshiyu 06718 (閩獅漁06718) sailed through the Taiwan Strait while intermittently transmitting its own AIS
CHINESE INFILTRATION: Medical logistics is a lifeline during wartime and the reported CCP links of a major logistics company present a national security threat, an expert said The government would bolster its security check system to prevent China from infiltrating the nation’s medical cold chain, a national security official said yesterday. The official, who wished to stay anonymous, made the remarks after the Chinese-language magazine Mirror Media (鏡周刊) reported that Pharma Logistics (嘉里醫藥物流) is in charge of the medical logistics of about half of the nation’s major hospitals, including National Taiwan University Hospital and Taipei Veterans General Hospital. The company’s parent, Kerry TJ Logistics Co (嘉里大榮物流), is associated with the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA), the
COVETED PRIZE: The US president would be a peace prize laureate should he persuade Xi Jinping to abandon military aggression against Taiwan, William Lai said US President Donald Trump should get the Nobel Peace Prize should he be able to convince Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) to abandon the use of force against Taiwan, President William Lai (賴清德) told a conservative US radio show and podcast in an interview. The US is Taiwan’s most important international backer, despite the absence of formal ties, but since Trump took office earlier this year he has not announced any new arms sales to the nation. Trump could meet Xi at the APEC summit in South Korea on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1. Lai, speaking on The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton
RSS