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.”
Tropical Storm Gaemi strengthened into a typhoon at 2pm yesterday, and could make landfall in Yilan County tomorrow, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. The agency was scheduled to issue a sea warning at 11:30pm yesterday, and could issue a land warning later today. Gaemi was moving north-northwest at 4kph, carrying maximum sustained winds near its center of up to 118.8kph and gusts of 154.8kph. The circumference is forecast to reach eastern Taiwan tomorrow morning, with the center making landfall in Yilan County later that night before departing from the north coast, CWA weather forecaster Kuan Shin-ping (官欣平) said yesterday. Uncertainty remains and
SEA WARNING LIKELY: The storm, named Gaemi, could become a moderate typhoon on Wednesday or Thursday, with the Taipei City Government preparing for flooding A tropical depression east of the Philippines developed into a tropical storm named Gaemi at 2pm yesterday, and was moving toward eastern Taiwan, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. Gaemi could begin to affect Taiwan proper on Tuesday, lasting until Friday, and could develop into a moderate typhoon on Wednesday or Thursday, it said. A sea warning for Gaemi could be issued as early as Tuesday morning, it added. Gaemi, the third tropical storm in the Pacific Ocean this typhoon season, is projected to begin moving northwest today, and be closest to Taiwan on Wednesday or Thursday, the agency said. Today, there would likely
DISRUPTIONS: The high-speed rail is to operate as normal, while several airlines either canceled flights or announced early departures or late arrivals Schools and offices in 15 cities and counties are to be closed today due to Typhoon Gaemi, local governments announced last night. The 15 are: Taipei, New Taipei City, Taoyuan, Tainan, Keelung, Hsinchu and Kaohsiung, as well as Yilan, Hualien, Hsinchu, Miaoli, Chiayi, Pingtung, Penghu and Lienchiang counties. People should brace for torrential rainfall brought by the storm, with its center forecast to make landfall on the east coast between tonight and tomorrow morning, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. The agency issued a sea warning for the typhoon at 11:30pm on Monday, followed by a land warning at 11:30am yesterday. As of
CASUALTY: A 70-year-old woman was killed by a falling tree in Kaohsiung as the premier warned all government agencies to remain on high alert for the next 24 hours Schools and offices nationwide are to be closed for a second day today as Typhoon Gaemi crosses over the nation, bringing torrential rain and whipping winds. Gaemi was forecast to make landfall late last night. From Tuesday night, its outer band brought substantial rainfall and strong winds to the nation. As of 6:15pm last night, the typhoon’s center was 20km southeast of Hualien County, Central Weather Administration (CWA) data showed. It was moving at 19kph and had a radius of 250km. As of 3pm yesterday, one woman had died, while 58 people were injured, the Central Emergency Operation Center said. The 70-year-old