A US congressional commission on Wednesday recommended that US President Donald Trump’s administration give more support to Taiwan’s efforts to enhance its defense capabilities by adopting such steps as inviting Taiwan to military exercises and increasing high-level exchanges with nation’s military.
In its annual report to the US Congress, the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission said that Congress should urge the administration to invite Taiwan to participate, at least as an observer, in US-led bilateral and multilateral military and security-related exercises, including the Rim of the Pacific maritime exercise, Red Flag air-to-air combat training exercises and the Cyber Storm cybersecurity exercise.
The commission also recommended that Congress urge the executive branch to reexamine its practices regarding reciprocal visits by senior US and Taiwanese military officers and civilian officials, including Cabinet-level officials and senior US National Security Council officials, as part of an effort to enhance US-Taiwan relations.
In addition, the commission said Congress should ensure relevant US military personnel is sufficiently familiar with Taiwan’s defense situation by allocating funds for US military personnel to take courses at Taiwanese defense-educational institutions and in an unofficial capacity through the American Institute in Taiwan.
Taiwan has embarked on a robust program to enhance its defensive capabilities by investing in the domestic defense industry, procuring US weapons systems and transitioning to an all-volunteer force, the commission said.
However, these efforts face a major challenge from the scope and speed of the modernization of the Chinese military, it added.
Politically, Beijing continues to increase pressure on Taipei in response to President Tsai Ing-wen’s (蔡英文) refusal to endorse the so-called “1992 consensus,” the commission said, adding that over the past year, Beijing’s pressure on Taipei over its participation in the international community has also become more pronounced.
The commission was created by the US Congress in 2000 to monitor the impact of China on the US economic and security interests.
The “1992 consensus” refers to a tacit understanding between the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and Beijing that both sides of the Taiwan Strait acknowledge there is “one China,” with each side having its own interpretation of what “China” means.
Former Mainland Affairs Council chairman Su Chi (蘇起) in 2006 said that he had made up the term in 2000.
TRAFFIC SAFETY RULES: A positive result in a drug test would result in a two-year license suspension for the driver and vehicle, and a fine of up to NT$180,000 The Ministry of Transportation and Communications is to authorize police to conduct roadside saliva tests by the end of the year to deter people from driving while under the influence of narcotics, it said yesterday. The ministry last month unveiled a draft of amended regulations governing traffic safety rules and penalties, which included provisions empowering police to conduct mandatory saliva tests on drivers. While currently rules authorize police to use oral fluid testing kits for signs of drug use, they do not establish penalties for noncompliance or operating procedures for officers to follow, the ministry said. The proposed changes to the regulations require
The Executive Yuan yesterday announced that registration for a one-time universal NT$10,000 cash handout to help people in Taiwan survive US tariffs and inflation would start on Nov. 5, with payouts available as early as Nov. 12. Who is eligible for the handout? Registered Taiwanese nationals are eligible, including those born in Taiwan before April 30 next year with a birth certificate. Non-registered nationals with residence permits, foreign permanent residents and foreign spouses of Taiwanese citizens with residence permits also qualify for the handouts. For people who meet the eligibility requirements, but passed away between yesterday and April 30 next year, surviving family members
Taipei, New Taipei City, Keelung and Taoyuan would issue a decision at 8pm on whether to cancel work and school tomorrow due to forecasted heavy rain, Keelung Mayor Hsieh Kuo-liang (謝國樑) said today. Hsieh told reporters that absent some pressing reason, the four northern cities would announce the decision jointly at 8pm. Keelung is expected to receive between 300mm and 490mm of rain in the period from 2pm today through 2pm tomorrow, Central Weather Administration data showed. Keelung City Government regulations stipulate that school and work can be canceled if rain totals in mountainous or low-elevation areas are forecast to exceed 350mm in
China Airlines Ltd (CAL) yesterday morning joined SkyTeam’s Aviation Challenge for the fourth time, operating a demonstration flight for “net zero carbon emissions” from Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport to Bangkok. The flight used sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) at a ratio of up to 40 percent, the highest proportion CAL has achieved to date, the nation’s largest carrier said. Since April, SAF has become available to Taiwanese international carriers at Taipei International Airport (Songshan airport), Kaohsiung International Airport and Taoyuan airport. In previous challenges, CAL operated “net zero carbon emission flights” to Singapore and Japan. At a ceremony at Taoyuan airport, China Airlines chief sustainability
RSS