The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has expressed its gratitude for comments by US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin in a speech in Singapore on Tuesday that reiterated Washington’s commitment to Taiwan’s security.
Austin delivered the speech, titled “The imperative of partnership,” at the 40th Fullerton Lecture, which was hosted by the UK International Institute for Strategic Studies.
“I’ve come to Southeast Asia to deepen America’s bonds with the allies and partners on whom our common security depends... And I never take an ally for granted,” Austin said.
Photo: Reuters
The most urgent task is to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, he said, adding that a global recovery requires global vaccination.
The Indo-Pacific region was made a top priority in US President Joe Biden’s plan to deliver more than 500 million COVID-19 vaccine doses worldwide, he said, adding that over the past two months, the US has donated about 40 million doses in the region, including to Taiwan, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, South Korea, Thailand and Vietnam, he said.
With new threats and technologies changing the face and pace of warfare, the US, along with its allies and partners, is operating under a new vision called “integrated deterrence,” which included the so-called “gray zone,” where the rights and livelihoods of Southeast Asians are coming under stress, he said.
“Meanwhile, we are working with Taiwan to enhance its own capabilities and to increase its readiness to deter threats and coercion, upholding our commitments under the [US’] Taiwan Relations Act, and consistent with our one China policy,” he added.
Beijing’s claim to the vast majority of the South China Sea has no basis in international law, Austin said.
“We have also seen [Beijing’s] aggression against India, destabilizing military activity and other forms of coercion against the people of Taiwan, and genocide and crimes against humanity against Uighur Muslims in Xinjiang,” he said.
“We will not flinch when our interests are threatened. Yet we do not seek confrontation,” Austin said.
“As secretary, I am committed to pursuing a constructive, stable relationship with China, including stronger crisis communications with the [Chinese] People’s Liberation Army,” he said. “You know, big powers need to model transparency and communication — and we hope that we can work together with Beijing on common challenges, especially the threat of climate change.”
In Taipei, Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Joanne Ou (歐江安) thanked Austin for reiterating Washington’s commitment to Taiwan’s security, as well as thanking the Biden administration for donating 2.5 million doses of the Moderna vaccine to Taiwan.
The Biden administration has repeatedly said that its commitment to Taiwan is “rock solid” under the Taiwan Relations Act and the “six assurances,” while engaging with its allies to underscore the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, Ou said.
As a close partner of the US in the Indo-Pacific region, the nation would continue to boost its defense capabilities, and contribute to peace and stability across the Strait and the region, she said.
SOLIDARITY: A group of European lawmakers condemned China’s aggressive moves, while the foreign minister of Lithuania said Taiwan ‘cannot become a second Ukraine’ A German parliamentary delegation would visit Taiwan in the first week of October, German lawmaker Holger Becker on Monday told visiting Democratic Progressive Party legislators Fan Yun (范雲) and Lin I-chin (林宜瑾) at the Bundestag in Berlin. Asked by Fan whether he is worried about possible reprisals from Beijing, such as banning him and his family from entering China, Becker said he is more interested in visiting Taiwan, as “now is the time for democracies to stand together.” Fan and Lin also met with German officials to exchange views on digital education and governance. Investing in digital infrastructure and protecting equal rights to
‘IRRATIONAL ACTS’: The defense ministry condemned the drills, during which China tested successors to missiles deployed during the Taiwan Strait Crisis in 1995 and 1996 China yesterday fired several Dongfeng ballistic missiles as it began four days of unprecedented military drills off Taiwan proper following US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taipei the previous day. On Tuesday, Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi (王毅) said Beijing would “take all necessary measures” in retaliation should Pelosi visit Taiwan during her Asia tour. The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) from 1:56pm to 4pm fired 11 Dongfeng missiles into waters north, east and south of Taiwan proper, the Ministry of National Defense (MND) said. Taiwanese armed forces, using “forward warning and surveillance mechanisms,” monitored the missile tests
ANNEXATION PLANS: Remarks by the Chinese ambassador to France showed that Beijing seeks to normalize genocide, re-education and gulags, a US official said European and US officials condemned comments from Chinese Ambassador to France Lu Shaye (盧沙野), after he on Wednesday said that Taiwanese would be “re-educated” after any annexation by China. In an interview on French television, Lu accused the Democratic Progressive Party of “extremist” propaganda and turning Taiwanese against “reunification” with China. “We will re-educate. I’m sure that the Taiwanese population will again become favorable of the reunification and will become patriots again,” Lu told BFM TV. The term “re-education” has been used to describe Chinese authorities’ treatment of Uighurs and other Muslim minority groups in Xinjiang. European Parliament Subcommittee on Security and Defense Chairwoman
‘SIMULATED ATTACKS’: Ten warships each from China and Taiwan were maneuvering at close quarters in the Taiwan Strait, with some Chinese vessels crossing the median line Taiwan yesterday reiterated that it would not succumb to pressure from Beijing after China carried out its most provocative military drills in decades in retaliation for US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s trip to Taiwan last week. “We will never bow to pressure. We uphold freedom and democracy, and believe Taiwanese disapprove [of] China’s bullying actions with force and saber rattling at our door,” Premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) said yesterday. China had “arrogantly” disrupted regional peace and stability, he said, calling on Beijing to not flex its military muscles. President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) has also called on the international community to “support
RSS