Senior Ministry of National Defense officials and other experts said enhanced cooperation arising from the formation of military “sister units” between Taiwan and the US could help counter a possible marine blockade and attack by China’s People’s Liberation Army.
Taiwan’s Aviation Special Forces 601st Brigade, based in Taoyuan, has formed a sister-unit relationship with the Hawaii-based US Army 25th Combat Aviation Brigade, according to a report by the Liberty Times (the sister newspaper of the Taipei Times).
The 25th is a unit of the US 25th Infantry Division of the US Pacific Command, headquartered in Hawaii for military operations in the Asia-Pacific region.
Photo courtesy of the Army Command Headquarters
The Psychological Warfare Battalion Headquarters of the ministry’s Political Warfare Brigade has also formed a sister-unit relationship with the US 7th Psychological Operations Group, which is also part of the US Pacific Command, the report said.
A senior military official was quoted in the report as saying that the US initiated the two military cooperation programs.
The arrangement was made partially because Taiwan’s 601st Brigade was modeled on US Army combat aviation units, using Apache AH-64 attack helicopters, OH-58D Kiowa reconnaissance helicopters and Black Hawk UH-60 utility helicopters, the report said.
Ministry Administrative Deputy Minister Lieutenant General Wang Shin-lung (王信龍) on Wednesday confirmed the development when he responded to questions at a meeting of the Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee at the legislature in Taipei.
Forming sister units has both symbolic and practical meaning, Wang said.
He did not provide details on the scope of the collaboration.
Ministry spokesperson Major General David Lo (羅紹和) also confirmed the developments, saying: “The defense ministry welcomes the arrangement, since these exchanges can boost the capability of our armed forces.”
He also declined to elaborate on details of the collaborations.
DPP Legislator Tsai Huang-liang (蔡煌瑯) and defense experts said the development communicated a clear political message of an improving relationship between Taiwan and the US, while warning China against any military intentions in the Asia-Pacific region.
“Although the Ministry of National Defense would talk only about the ‘military exchange’ aspect, it is in effect the US’ way of including Taiwan in its military alliance in the region,” Tsai said yesterday. “We see that the US is implementing its strategy with a pivot toward the Asia-Pacific region and US forces are returning to this part of the world in a big way. So this is a very crucial time and Taiwanese must seize this opportunity to enter into a military alliance with US.”
Tsai said it also shows that Washington understands Taiwan’s important and strategic position in the face of China’s growing military strength and potential conflicts over disputed territorial claims.
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電), the world’s largest foundry service provider, yesterday said that global semiconductor revenue is projected to hit US$1.5 trillion in 2030, after the figure exceeds US$1 trillion this year, as artificial intelligence (AI) demand boosts consumption of token and compute power. “We are still at the beginning of the AI revolution, but we already see a significant impact across the whole semiconductor ecosystem,” TSMC deputy cochief operating officer Kevin Zhang (張曉強) said at the company’s annual technology symposium in Hsinchu City. “It is fair to say that in the past decade, smartphones and other mobile devices were
US-CHINA SUMMIT: MOFA welcomed US reassurance of no change in its Taiwan policy; Trump said he did not comment when Xi talked of opposing independence US President Donald Trump yesterday said he has not made a decision on whether to move forward with a major arms package for Taiwan after hearing concerns about it from Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平). Trump’s comments on Taiwan came as he flew back to Washington after wrapping up critical talks in which both leaders said important progress was made in stabilizing US-China relations even as deep differences persist between the world’s two biggest powers on Iran and Taiwan. “I will make a determination,” Trump said, adding: “I’ll be making decisions. But, you know, I think the last thing we need right
TAIWAN ISSUE: US treasury secretary Scott Bessent said on the first day of meetings that ‘it wouldn’t be a US-China summit without the Taiwan issue coming up’ There were no surprises on the first day of the summit between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平), the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said yesterday, as the government reiterated that cross-strait stability is crucial to the Asia-Pacific region, as well as the world. As the two presidents met for a highly anticipated summit yesterday, Chinese state media reported that Xi warned Trump that missteps regarding Taiwan could push their two countries into “conflict.” Trump arrived in China with accolades for his host, calling Xi a “great leader” and “friend,” and extending an invitation to visit the White House
SECURITY: Taipei presses the US for arms supplies, saying the arms sales are not only a reflection of the US security commitment to Taiwan but also serve as a mutual deterrent against regional threats Taiwan is committed to preserving the cross-strait “status quo” and contributing to regional peace and stability, the Presidential Office said yesterday. “It is an undeniable fact that the Republic of China is a sovereign and independent democratic nation,” Presidential Office spokeswoman Karen Kuo (郭雅慧) reiterated, adding that Beijing has no right to claim sovereignty over Taiwan. The statements came after US President Donald Trump warned against Taiwanese independence. Trump wrapped up a state visit to Beijing on Friday, during which Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) had pressed him not to support Taiwan. Taiwan depends heavily on US security backing to deter China from carrying
RSS