Tue, Aug 04, 2026 page2

• Close ties with US Pacific Command boost Taiwan’s defense readiness: Koo

  • By Yimou Lee / Reuters
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  Taiwan’s cooperation with the US may be closer than many imagine, Minister of National Defense Wellington Koo (顧立雄) said on Friday, as the nation strives ?to deepen military exchanges with the US Pacific Command to boost defense capabilities.

  The command helps maintain peace and security in the Indo-Pacific region, and it views Taiwan as occupying a key position in the First Island Chain that stretches from Japan through Taiwan and ?the Philippines, Koo said.

  “Our cooperation with the US may be far closer than ?many people imagine,” Koo said in an interview with a small group of reporters, as he voiced gratitude for Washington’s support.

  

  Minister of National Defense Wellington Koo is pictured in an undated photograph.

  Photo courtesy of Military News Agency via CNA

  “We continue to enhance our defensive ?combat capabilities through military exchanges and cooperation with the Pacific Command at all levels,” he added.

  Such ?efforts have helped Taiwan boost its defensive combat capabilities through military exchanges, he said.

  China has escalated military pressure around Taiwan, including coast guard operations off its Pacific coast, an area Taiwan sees as vital for wartime supplies from allies.

  The effort has spurred drills by Taipei simulating Chinese escalation, including the prospect of a blockade.

  A Chinese blockade of Taiwan ?would carry major risks ?for Beijing, which relies on external trade and the importance of its ports to global shipping, Koo said.

  “In fact, a maritime blockade would pose an even greater ?challenge for China,” he said, as it would have a ?severe impact at a time when the Chinese economy faces difficulties, and was likely to unleash heavy international sanctions.

  China would also have to weigh the domestic political risks of any blockade for Chinese President Xi ?Jinping (習近平), Koo added.

  “Under such circumstances, whether China’s regime ?could remain stable and whether Xi Jinping’s rule could be secured would be a very, very big challenge,” ?he said.

  “I believe Xi Jinping must consider this,” he added.

  Separately, Koo called on the Legislative Yuan to support the Executive Yuan’s version of a special act on uncrewed systems procurement, which would authorize up to NT$210 billion (US$6.5 billion) in funding over six years.

  The bill is under review by the opposition-controlled legislature alongside other competing proposals, including one by the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) that proposes allocating NT$240 billion over six years through the government’s annual budget, with NT$40 billion to be provided annually.

  Koo said the Cabinet’s version covers the full range of uncrewed systems, including those operating in the air, on the surface, on land and underwater, as well as testing facilities and programs supporting the development of the uncrewed systems industry.

  If all of these items are included under the NT$40 billion annual cap, the funding would likely be insufficient, he said, adding that such a limitation could affect programs such as the MQ-9B drone procurement.

  Asked about the status of the Chiang Kung air defense missile system and the “T-Dome” initiative, Koo said the former has completed its evaluation and would be included in the relevant budget.

  Taiwan’s broader air defense system remains a work in progress and will adopt a layered defense concept, he said, without elaborating.

  The system must be capable of countering ballistic missiles, aircraft, long-range rocket fire and drones, he said, requiring the integration of different sensors and intelligence to direct the most appropriate weapon system against each threat.

  Additional reporting by CNA
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