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.”
CALL FOR PEACE: Czech President Petr Pavel raised concerns about China’s military maneuvers in the Taiwan Strait and its ‘unfriendly action’ in the South China Sea The leaders of three diplomatic allies — Guatemala, Paraguay and Palau — on Tuesday voiced support for Taiwan’s inclusion in the UN on the first day of the UN General Debate in New York. In his address during the 78th UN General Assembly, Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr urged the UN and all parties involved in cross-strait issues to exercise restraint and seek a peaceful resolution. “The well-being and prosperity of nations and their economies are intrinsically linked to global peace and stability,” he said. He also thanked partner nations such as Taiwan, Australia, Japan and the US for providing assistance
CROSS-STRAIT CONCERNS: At the same US Congress hearing, Mira Resnick said a US government shutdown could affect weapons sales and licenses to allies such as Taiwan A Chinese blockade of Taiwan would be a “monster risk” for Beijing and likely to fail, while a military invasion would be extremely difficult, senior Pentagon officials told the US Congress on Tuesday. Growing worries of a conflict come as China has ramped up military pressure on Taiwan, holding large-scale war games simulating a blockade on the nation, while conducting near-daily warplane incursions and sending Chinese vessels around its waters. US Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs Ely Ratner said a blockade would be “a monster risk for the PRC [People’s Republic of China].” “It would likely not succeed, and it
IMPORTS: Fifty-four million imported eggs with a value of more than NT$200 million had to be destroyed, mostly because they expired in storage facilities Minister of Agriculture Chen Chi-chung (陳吉仲) last night announced that he would resign from his post. Local media on Sunday reported that Chen had resigned due to controversy over the ministry’s egg import program. Later that same evening, the Executive Yuan said that Premier Chen Chien-jen (陳建仁) had asked the minister to stay on to resolve the issue. Chen Chi-chung last night made public his decision to resign on Facebook, saying that this time he would not be dissuaded. Chen Chi-chung earlier yesterday apologized for the furor surrounding the egg import program, but added that misinformation had made the problems worse. The government was
AMPHIBIOUS EXERCISES: The defense ministry said that it had detected 24 Chinese PLA Air Force planes entering Taiwan’s air defense zone over the previous 24 hours Chinese movements around Taiwan were “abnormal,” Minister of National Defense Chiu Kuo-cheng (邱國正) said yesterday, flagging recent amphibious exercises in addition to drills Taipei has observed in China’s Fujian Province. Taiwan has reported a rise in Chinese military activity over the past week as dozens of fighters, drones, bombers and other aircraft, as well as warships, have operated around the nation. “Our initial analysis is that they are doing joint drills in September, including land, sea, air and amphibious,” Chiu told reporters at the legislature in Taipei. The “recent enemy situation is quite abnormal,” he said. The comments followed a statement from the
RSS