The US and Taiwan signed a two-year specialized training program for Taiwan’s navy, the Ministry of National Defense said today, in an unexpected announcement confirming US training.
The US has a history of stationing military instructors and special ops teams in Taiwan to quietly assist with training, but details have been classified.
On Jan. 2, the ministry’s military delegation to the US signed an agreement with the American Institute in Taiwan, an announcement from the ministry showed.
Photo: Chen Yen-ting, Taipei Times
The agreement stated that the US government would send personnel to Taiwan to conduct a two-year specialized naval training program with a budget of NT$49,887,240 (US$1,516,109).
The training program would take place at Kaohsiung’s Zuoying (左營), the headquarters of the navy and marine corps.
The program is likely related to amphibious combat training with the amphibious naval fleet and marine corps.
Although the budget is not high, it is the first time a “specialized training program” with the US has been officially announced, a military source said on condition of anonymity.
The US has changed its low-key and confidential training approach to a semi-public approach, testing political and public reactions, the source said.
The US and Taiwan had previously implemented a training regime in which the US military instructed Taiwan’s amphibious naval fleet and marine corps on joint operations.
However, the project was interrupted when official relations between the US and Taiwan were severed, until 2017 when small-scale exchanges resumed.
In recent years, the marine corps has been sending troops to the US and Guam to receive military training, according to military reports.
The US has also sent senior instructors and small units to Taiwan to provide combat training assistance, but no public confirmations have been made until now.
Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr arrived in Taiwan last night to kick off his first visit to the country since beginning his second term earlier this year. After arriving at Taoyuan International Airport at around 6:30 pm, Whipps and his delegation were welcomed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍). Speaking to gathered media, the Palauan leader said he was excited and honored to be back in Taiwan on his first state visit to Taiwan since he was sworn in this January. Among those traveling with Whipps is Minister of State Gustav N. Aitaro, Public Infrastructure
President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday thanked Palau for its continued support of Taiwan's international participation, as Taipei was once again excluded from the World Health Assembly (WHA) currently taking place in Switzerland. "Palau has never stopped voicing support for Taiwan" in the UN General Assembly, the WHO and other UN-affiliated agencies, Lai said during a bilateral meeting with visiting Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr. "We have been profoundly touched by these endorsements," Lai said, praising the Pacific island nation's firm support as "courageous." Lai's remarks came as Taiwan was excluded for the ninth consecutive year from the WHA, which is being held in
RESOLUTIONS DEBATE: Taiwan’s allies said that UN and WHA resolutions cited by China and other nations ‘do not determine Taiwan’s participation in WHO activities’ A proposal to invite Taiwan to this year’s World Health Assembly (WHA) was rejected on Monday, resulting in Taipei’s absence from the annual meeting for a ninth consecutive year, although partners spoke up for Taiwan’s participation at the first day of the meeting. The first agenda item after the opening was a “two-on-two debate” on a proposal to invite Taiwan to participate at the WHA as an observer. Similar to previous years, two countries made statements in favor of the proposal, while two others expressed their opposition. Philippine Secretary of Health Teodoro Herbosa, president of the 78th WHA, accepted the WHA General Committee’s
At least three people died and more than a dozen were injured yesterday afternoon when a vehicle struck a group of pedestrians in New Taipei City’s Sansia District (三峽). The incident happened at about 4pm when a car rammed into pedestrians at an intersection near Bei Da Elementary School. Witnesses said the sedan, being driven at a high speed, ran a red light, knocking scooters out of the way and hitting students crossing the road before careening into a median near the intersection of Guocheng and Guoguang streets. The incident resulted in three deaths and 13 injuries, including the driver, a 78-year-old man
RSS