The US on Friday reiterated its support for Taiwan’s self-defense capabilities in a statement affirming its commitment to the Indo-Pacific region.
The White House said that Washington has supported Taiwan’s self-defense capabilities through a range of security assistance authorities and resources, including the first-ever use of Foreign Military Financing (FMF) and Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA) for Taiwan, as well as International Military Education and Training (IMET).
US President Joe Biden had identified the Indo-Pacific as the critical region for the future of the US and the world, it said.
Photo: Bloomberg
“In pursuit of regional peace, security and stability, we have reinvested in our defense presence and capabilities, integrated our efforts with partners and modernized our alliances, and collectively deterred aggression and coercion,” the statement said. “We have used a range of security assistance authorities and resources to provide Taiwan defensive arms and services necessary to maintain a sufficient self-defense capability, commensurate with the threat it faces.”
“This assistance is an important part of our efforts to maintain cross-strait peace and stability,” it said.
For a prosperous Indo-Pacific region, the US has collaborated with partners such as Taiwan, Australia, Japan and New Zealand to support small Pacific island countries by funding more than US$37 million in undersea cable projects, it said.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday expressed its appreciation to the US for reiterating its use of FMF and PDA for Taiwan, for the IMET program, and other resources to help maintain the nation’s self-defense capability, and cross-strait peace and stability.
The US’ collaborative undersea cables projects was a good example of Taiwan’s “integrated diplomacy” strategy, the ministry said.
“Taiwan is not only an important force in maintaining regional peace and global prosperity, but also a trustworthy partner in defending global economic safety and resilience,” it said.
The Biden administration had also announced 19 arms sales to Taiwan, continuing the US policy of normalized weapons sales to Taiwan, it said, adding that the sales underscore the US’ staunch commitment to and support for bolstering Taiwan’s self-defense capabilities and resilience.
“The more secure Taiwan, the more secure the world. The more resilient Taiwan, the sounder the defense of global democracy,” the ministry said, quoting President William Lai’s (賴清德) New Year’s address.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has also publicly stressed that Taiwan is not China’s business, but the world’s business, it added.
Taiwan, the US and other allies and partners have cooperated to build a shared foundation for the Indo-Pacific region that is free, open, connected, prosperous, secure and resilient, it said.
By building on the solid friendship with the US, Taiwan can bolster cooperation with the incoming administration of US president-elect Donald Trump, it added.
The nation also hopes to continue demonstrating its self-defense determination by improving its defense capabilities and resilience through US arms sales, national defense reforms and whole-of-society defense resilience approaches, as well as deepening the security, economic and trade partnership with the US, the ministry said.
The White House statement also mentioned the US’ multifaceted efforts in the region, including upholding freedom of navigation and overflight in the Indo-Pacific region in accordance with international law, reaffirming its support for ASEAN, launching the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity and the AUKUS Enhanced Security Partnership, and collaborating with regional partners to enhance resilience against transnational threats, including climate change, natural disasters and infectious diseases.
WAITING GAME: The US has so far only offered a ‘best rate tariff,’ which officials assume is about 15 percent, the same as Japan, a person familiar with the matter said Taiwan and the US have completed “technical consultations” regarding tariffs and a finalized rate is expected to be released soon, Executive Yuan spokeswoman Michelle Lee (李慧芝) told a news conference yesterday, as a 90-day pause on US President Donald Trump’s “reciprocal” tariffs is set to expire today. The two countries have reached a “certain degree of consensus” on issues such as tariffs, nontariff trade barriers, trade facilitation, supply chain resilience and economic security, Lee said. They also discussed opportunities for cooperation, investment and procurement, she said. A joint statement is still being negotiated and would be released once the US government has made
NEW GEAR: On top of the new Tien Kung IV air defense missiles, the military is expected to place orders for a new combat vehicle next year for delivery in 2028 Mass production of Tien Kung IV (Sky Bow IV) missiles is expected to start next year, with plans to order 122 pods, the Ministry of National Defense’s (MND) latest list of regulated military material showed. The document said that the armed forces would obtain 46 pods of the air defense missiles next year and 76 pods the year after that. The Tien Kung IV is designed to intercept cruise missiles and ballistic missiles to an altitude of 70km, compared with the 60km maximum altitude achieved by the Missile Segment Enhancement variant of PAC-3 systems. A defense source said yesterday that the number of
Taiwanese exports to the US are to be subject to a 20 percent tariff starting on Thursday next week, according to an executive order signed by US President Donald Trump yesterday. The 20 percent levy was the same as the tariffs imposed on Vietnam, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh by Trump. It was higher than the tariffs imposed on Japan, South Korea and the EU (15 percent), as well as those on the Philippines (19 percent). A Taiwan official with knowledge of the matter said it is a "phased" tariff rate, and negotiations would continue. "Once negotiations conclude, Taiwan will obtain a better
FLOOD RECOVERY: “Post-Typhoon Danas reconstruction special act” is expected to be approved on Thursday, the premier said, adding the flood control in affected areas would be prioritized About 200cm of rainfall fell in parts of southern Taiwan from Monday last week to 9am yesterday, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. Kaohsiung’s Taoyuan District (桃源) saw total rainfall of 2,205mm, while Pingtung County’s Sandimen Township (三地門) had 2,060.5mm and Tainan’s Nanhua District (南化) 1,833mm, according to CWA data. Meanwhile, Alishan (阿里山) in Chiayi County saw 1,688mm of accumulated rain and Yunlin County’s Caoling (草嶺) had 1,025mm. The Pingtung County Government said that 831 local residents have been pre-emptively evacuated from mountainous areas. A total of 576 are staying with relatives in low-lying areas, while the other 255 are in shelters. CWA forecaster
RSS