China yesterday warned against continued Taiwan-US cooperation, responding to reports that the US military was sending officers to help train Taiwanese counterparts and that a delegation of defense contractors would be visiting the nation next week.
“We resolutely oppose the US having any form of official or military contact with China’s Taiwan region,” China’s Taiwan Affairs Office spokeswoman Zhu Fenglian (朱鳳蓮) told a weekly news briefing in Beijing.
Taiwan has never been part of the People’s Republic of China, but the Chinese Communist Party says it is obliged to unite with China, by force if necessary.
Photo: CNA
Chinese President Xi Jinping’s (習近平) government has flown fighter jets and bombers near Taiwan in increasing numbers, and fired missiles into the sea in an attempt to intimidate the nation.
Taiwanese media reported this month that the US had sent 200 military personnel, mostly marines, to help train Taiwanese troops.
The Ministry of National Defense has neither denied nor confirmed the report.
Meanwhile, a delegation of about 25 defense contractors is visiting the nation next week, hosted by the US-Taiwan Business Council.
Nikkei Asia reported that the weapons manufacturers would discuss joint production of drones and ammunition in Taiwan.
“US defense contractors intentionally provoke confrontation between the two sides, taking the opportunity to make a profit,” Zhu said.
She accused the Democratic Progressive Party, which has been in power for six years, of colluding with the US to press for formal Taiwanese independence.
The US does not formally recognize the Taiwanese government, but is Taipei’s most vital provider of weapons and other security assistance, as well as political support.
China has turned up the heat by sending fighter jets and navy vessels near the nation on a near-daily basis, especially in response to political meetings between Taiwan and the US.
Earlier this month, China held large-scale military exercises simulating a strike on key targets in Taiwan in response to President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) meeting with US House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California.
The Executive Yuan yesterday approved a southwestern extension of the Sanying MRT Line from New Taipei to Bade District (八德) in Taoyuan, with a goal of starting construction by late 2026. The 4.03-kilometer extension, featuring three new stations, will run from the current terminus at Yingtao Fude Station (LB12) in New Taipei City to Dannan Station (LB14), where it will connect with Taoyuan’s Green Line, New Taipei City Metro Corp said in a statement. This extension will follow the completion of core Sanying Line, a 14.29-kilometer medium-capacity system linking Tucheng (土城), Sansia (三峽)
CARGO LOSS: About 50 containers at the stern of the ‘Ever Lunar’ cargo ship went overboard, prompting the temporary closure of the port and disrupting operations Evergreen Marine Corp, Taiwan’s largest container shipper, yesterday said that all crew members aboard the Ever Lunar (長月) were safe after dozens of containers fell overboard off the coast of Peru the previous day. The incident occurred at 9:40am on Friday as the Ever Lunar was anchored and waiting to enter the Port of Callao when it suddenly experienced severe rolling, Evergreen said in a statement. The rolling, which caused the containers to fall, might have been caused by factors including a tsunami triggered by an earthquake in Russia, poor winter sea conditions in South America or a sudden influx of waves,
The Ministry of Culture yesterday officially launched the “We TAIWAN” cultural program on Osaka’s Nakanoshima sandbank, with the program’s mascot receiving overwhelming popularity. The cultural program, which runs from Aug. 2 to 20, was designed to partner with and capitalize on the 2025 World Expo that is being held in Osaka, Japan, from April 13 to Oct. 13, the ministry said. On the first day of the cultural program, its mascot, a green creature named “a-We,” proved to be extremely popular, as its merch was immediately in high demand. Long lines formed yesterday for the opening
The Taipei Summer Festival is to begin tomorrow at Dadaocheng Wharf (大稻埕), featuring four themed firework shows and five live music performances throughout the month, the Taipei Department of Information and Tourism said today. The festival in the city’s Datong District (大同) is to run until Aug. 30, holding firework displays on Wednesdays and the final Saturday of the event. The first show is scheduled for tomorrow, followed by Aug. 13, 20 and 30. To celebrate the 30th anniversary of Disney Pixar's movie Toy Story, the festival has partnered with Walt Disney Co (Taiwan) to host a special themed area on
RSS