Tensions over Taiwan have continued to flare since the mid-1990s, a report by the US Congressional Research Service (CRS) said, adding that the situation has left “many observers fearing the possibility of war looming between the United States and China — two nuclear powers.”
In a 44-page review of US-China military contacts, Asian security affairs specialist Shirley Kan said that Beijing’s rising assertiveness had been accompanied by “reduced appreciation” for military-to-military exchanges.
The review, released on Wednesday, follows a separate CRS report on policy issues in US-Taiwan relations published a few days ago.
While considering contacts with the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), the US, after the 1995-1996 Taiwan Strait Crisis, has increased arms sales to and ties with Taiwan’s military, the new report said.
It said that policy considerations for members of Congress include offering arms sales and cooperation to help Taiwan’s self defense; securing leverage over Beijing or Taipei; deterring aggression or coercion and supporting cross-strait dialogue and confidence-building measures.
“There are complications in consideration of the question of Taiwan in the US-PRC [People’s Republic of China] military relationship,” it said.
“Not discussing Taiwan leaves the primary dispute subject to misperception or miscalculation,” the review said.
“However, linking the Taiwan question can raise tensions and frustrations over a disagreement that military exchanges cannot solve,” it said.
The review said that the PLA had suspended military exchanges in retaliation for steps in US policy toward Taiwan, especially continued arms sales. However, cutting off exchanges played a counterproductive role by raising US-PRC tension.
The review added that if the PLA believed US arms sales to Taiwan actually countered China’s interests, the PLA or the broader PRC authorities have not retaliated against Taiwan for requesting or buying defense items.
“PRC threats or steps have been directed against the United States, but not Taiwan,” the review said.
The Ministry of Education (MOE) is to launch a new program to encourage international students to stay in Taiwan and explore job opportunities here after graduation, Deputy Minister of Education Yeh Ping-cheng (葉丙成) said on Friday. The government would provide full scholarships for international students to further their studies for two years in Taiwan, so those who want to pursue a master’s degree can consider applying for the program, he said. The fields included are science, technology, engineering, mathematics, semiconductors and finance, Yeh added. The program, called “Intense 2+2,” would also assist international students who completed the two years of further studies in
Former president Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) departed for Europe on Friday night, with planned stops in Lithuania and Denmark. Tsai arrived at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport on Friday night, but did not speak to reporters before departing. Tsai wrote on social media later that the purpose of the trip was to reaffirm the commitment of Taiwanese to working with democratic allies to promote regional security and stability, upholding freedom and democracy, and defending their homeland. She also expressed hope that through joint efforts, Taiwan and Europe would continue to be partners building up economic resilience on the global stage. The former president was to first
Former president Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) on Monday called for greater cooperation between Taiwan, Lithuania and the EU to counter threats to information security, including attacks on undersea cables and other critical infrastructure. In a speech at Vilnius University in the Lithuanian capital, Tsai highlighted recent incidents in which vital undersea cables — essential for cross-border data transmission — were severed in the Taiwan Strait and the Baltic Sea over the past year. Taiwanese authorities suspect Chinese sabotage in the incidents near Taiwan’s waters, while EU leaders have said Russia is the likely culprit behind similar breaches in the Baltic. “Taiwan and our European
The Taipei District Court sentenced babysitters Liu Tsai-hsuan (劉彩萱) and Liu Jou-lin (劉若琳) to life and 18 years in prison respectively today for causing the death of a one-year-old boy in December 2023. The Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office said that Liu Tsai-hsuan was entrusted with the care of a one-year-old boy, nicknamed Kai Kai (剴剴), in August 2023 by the Child Welfare League Foundation. From Sept. 1 to Dec. 23 that year, she and her sister Liu Jou-lin allegedly committed acts of abuse against the boy, who was rushed to the hospital with severe injuries on Dec. 24, 2023, but did not
RSS