Taiwan’s president has confirmed that American troops are currently on Taiwan training the Taiwanese army. This is just days after President Joe Biden had publicly stated that he would defend the country from China.
Tsai Ingwen, President of Taiwan, explained how US soldiers were stationed at the island’s self-governing. He also said that Taiwan had a wide range of cooperation with the US in order to increase our defense capabilities.
It is believed that the training mission, which includes a special-operations unit as well as a contingent of Marines, has been in operation for at most one year.
The Pentagon maintained a large presence in Taiwan for decades. However, the American Taiwan Defense Command was terminated in 1979 when the United States established a formal diplomatic relationship. Washington maintained informal ties to Taiwan.
Although the number of troops on the island is said to be less that three dozen, this token gesture is significant and symbolic. It signals that the American presidential administrations will stand up to Chinese aggression and defend democratic Taiwan.
Ing-wen’s announcement is the first time that the country has confirmed their presence.
Tsai Ingwen, Taiwan’s President, stated that she has ‘faith” that the United States will defend her island in case China launches a military attack.
During the interview, Tsai said that she has ‘faith’ the United States would defend the island against a Chinese attack, as Beijing and Washington trade barbs over Taipei’s place on the global stage.
The comments from Tsai came during a CNN interview after Biden rebuked Beijing over its actions near Taiwan at a virtual East Asia summit attended by China’s premier.
Biden stated last week in a televised forum, that the United States was ready and able to defend Taiwan against any Chinese invasion.
The White House quickly removed those comments, despite warnings from Beijing. It continued a strategy of ambiguity about whether it would intervene militarily if China attacked.
During a CNN interview, Trump also revealed that American troops were training Taiwan’s military on Taiwanese soil.
China considers Taiwan, which nationalist forces fled to in 1949 after losing an civil war to communists, a province that is awaiting reunification.
China considers Taiwan (where nationalist forces fled Taiwan in 1949 after losing an civil war to communists) to be a province that is awaiting reunification.
Tsai responded to a CNN interview when she was asked if she believed that the United States would defend Taiwan against China.
She spoke out about the ‘wide-ranging cooperation with the US aiming to increase our defense capability’, including the US military training for Taiwanese troops.
Currently, Taiwan is home to 32 members of the US Military.
China is constantly setting records by flying many warplanes near the island.
In a long-running dispute over Taiwan, the United States and China are intensifying their war of words. This has important implications for the power dynamics in the Indo-Pacific and beyond. A file photo from the U.S. Coast Guard shows Legend class U.S. Coast Guard Coast Guard national security cutter Munro (WMSL755) transiting Taiwan Strait in a routine transit with Arleigh-Burke class guided-missile destroyer USS Kidd.
CNN’s Tsai stated that despite China’s aggressive posture, her willingness to meet with Xi Jinping is a condition of their being able to’reduce misunderstandings and address differences in their political system.
She stated, “We can talk about our differences and try to make arrangements to allow us to co-exist peacefully.”
Biden spoke at the East Asia summit. He was joined by Chinese Premier Li Keqiang. Biden stated that the United States was “deeply concerned” by China’s proactive and coercive actions… across Taiwan Strait.
Biden said that such actions “threaten regional stability and peace” during the closed-door session.
During an Asian summit, US President Joe Biden spoke out against Beijing, stating that China’s actions towards Taiwan ‘threaten regional stability and peace’
China has increased military, diplomatic, economic pressure on Taiwan through President Xi Jinping, also a Communist Party leader and head the armed forces.
China sent a record number 149 military aircraft to Taiwan over the weekend of China’s National Day weekend. This prompted Taiwan to activate its air defense missile systems and scramble aircraft.
China also held recent beach landing exercises on its side over the approximately 100-mile-wide Taiwan Strait. It described these as a warning to TsaiIngwen’s administration.
In 1979, the United States switched diplomatic recognition to Beijing.
However, the Taiwan Relations Act was also approved by the US Congress. This Act required the supply and use of weapons for the island’s self-defense.
The US does not contest China’s claim on Taiwan. However, it is legally bound to protect Taiwan and treat all threats as grave concerns.
On Tuesday, US Secretary Of State Antony Blinken stated that the United States still recognizes Beijing. However, he highlighted Taiwan’s democratic credentials by asking for greater involvement in UN agencies.
Blinken stated that Taiwan has become a success story in democracy. “We are among the many UN member countries that view Taiwan as a trusted friend and valued partner.”
Blinken stated that Taiwan’s meaningful participation to the UN system was not a political issue but a pragmatic issue.
“That’s why we encourage all UN member countries to join us in supporting Taiwan’s strong, meaningful participation within the UN system and the international community.
On October 20, 2021, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Colombia and called for Taiwan’s inclusion in UN institutions.
Blinken referred to Taiwan’s exclusion at meetings associated with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ISO) and the World Health Organization.
He mentioned that Taiwan was praised for its world-class’ response on Covid-19, which largely saved the island after early intervention. And that millions of passengers pass through Taiwanese Airports each year.
China responded to Blinken’s statement with strident, but familiar statements emphasizing that Taiwan’s government was not a candidate for the diplomatic stage.
Ma Xiaoguang spoke for the Taiwan Affairs Office in Beijing and stated that Taiwan has no right not to join the United Nations.
“The United Nations is an international organization of sovereign states… Taiwanese are a part China.”
Only 14 countries, all from the developing world, and only the Vatican have diplomatic relations with Taiwan.
The tensions between China & the U.S. come as the Pentagon’s top General stated that China’s recent test firing an earth-circling hypersonic rocket was similar to the Soviet Union’s astonishing launch of Sputnik, the first satellite in the world, in 1957. This launched the superpowers’ space race.
“What we saw was an extremely significant event in the testing of a hypersonic weapons system. It is extremely concerning. I don’t know if this is a Sputnik moment but I think it’s very near to that,” United States Army General Mark A. Milley said, Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff
The US, Russia and China are all involved in a global arms race which now includes the development hypersonic missile technology. DailyMail.com has shown (from left) the main nuclear weapons of each country, the latest hypersonic technology that they have tested, their most modern aircraft carriers, main combat tanks, and cutting edge jets.
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley has confirmed that the Chinese tested a nuclear-capable missile. This would make it very difficult to defend against.
“What we saw was an extremely significant event in a test of hypersonic weapons system. Milley said that it was very concerning.
He stated, “I don’t know if this is quite a Sputnik Moment, but I think that it’s very close to it,”
“It’s an extremely significant technological event that took place… and it has all the attention of our attention.”
The US Department of Defense had not confirmed the test previously, first reported on October 16th.
Hypersonic weapons are the next frontier in missile technology. They fly lower than ballistic missiles and are therefore harder to detect, can reach targets faster, and are maneuverable.
Washington was taken by surprise when the August test launch took place
The missile circled Earth at low altitude and traveled more than five times faster than sound speed, but it missed its target by more 19 miles.
China denied the report, claiming that it was routine testing of a reusable satellite vehicle.
Hypersonics is the future of missile technology. They fly lower than ballistic missiles and are therefore harder to detect. They can also reach targets faster and are more maneuverable.
This makes them more dangerous, especially if they are mounted with nuclear warheads.
China launched the dummy weapon into orbit on board a Long March 2C Rocket (pictured). This was during a test in August that it did not disclose and was only revealed by security analysts who were assigned to investigate its purpose.