TAIPEI: The highest US envoy to Taiwan on Wednesday mentioned American help for the island is “rock-solid, principled, and bipartisan,” and mentioned Washington will proceed to observe by way of on its commitments to make sure the island can defend itself in opposition to threats from China.
Raymond F Greene’s remarks Wednesday come at a time of uncertainty over China’s intentions towards the island it claims as its personal territory – to be taken by power if needed – and amid conflicts in Ukraine and the Center East that threaten to attract the US in additional.
Greene made clear Taiwan was a high precedence, particularly the safety of transport within the essential Taiwan Strait that divides the island and China.
The US will “proceed to keep up the capability to withstand any resort to power or different types of coercion in opposition to Taiwan,” Greene mentioned, referencing the Taiwan Relations Act that ensured such backing following the breaking of formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan in 1979, when Washington normalized relations with the Communist authorities in Beijing.
Greene mentioned the Government Department has notified Congress of roughly $38.4 billion in Overseas Navy Gross sales to Taiwan since 2010, together with over $6.4 billion below the Biden administration, together with the equal of $345 million in transfers of arms from current US shares.
Upgraded and new F-16 jet fighters, Abrams tanks and different gear have arrived or are within the pipeline, whereas Taiwan is increasing its manufacturing of home arms together with submarines and anti-landing and floor to air missiles.
A senior American diplomat, Greene arrived two months in the past to function director of the American Institute in Taiwan, making him America’s de-facto ambassador on the island of 23.5 million those who has lengthy retained robust business, cultural and political hyperlinks with the US
Taiwan was a essential difficulty when US Nationwide Safety Adviser Jake Sullivan visited China final week, aiming to maintain communications open in a relationship that has turn into more and more tense in recent times.
Sullivan, on his first journey to China as the primary adviser to President Joe Biden on nationwide safety points, met with Chinese language chief Xi Jinping, Overseas Minister Wang Yi and a high basic from the Central Navy Fee.
Danny Russel, a vp on the Asia Society Coverage Institute in New York and who served on the nationwide safety council within the Obama administration, mentioned the assembly between Sullivan and Xi was notably necessary as a result of Sullivan was seen by the Chinese language management as “a direct extension” of the US president and that Sullivan’s messaging was seen as “coming straight from (President Joe) Biden.”
Sullivan additionally met considered one of China’s vice chairs of the Central Navy Fee, Gen. Zhang Youxia, final week – a uncommon assembly with a visiting US official.
“China calls for that the USA cease navy collusion between the US and Taiwan, cease arming Taiwan and cease spreading false narratives about Taiwan,” a Chinese language Protection Ministry assertion mentioned, with out elaborating on what the false narratives are.
A White Home assertion mentioned the 2 had “acknowledged the progress in sustained, common military-military communications over the previous 10 months.” On Taiwan, the US assertion mentioned solely that Sullivan had raised the significance of cross-Strait peace and stability.
China suspended communication between the 2 militaries after senior US lawmaker and then-Home Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan in August 2022. Talks solely progressively resumed greater than a 12 months later, after Xi and Biden met exterior San Francisco in November.
The US has lengthy been a cheerleader for Taiwan’s energetic democracy, which stands in stark distinction to China’s authoritarian state. Nonetheless, Greene mentioned Washington wouldn’t touch upon allegations of corruption and abuse of energy which have enveloped former Taipei mayor and presidential candidate Ko Wen-je over latest months.
Raymond F Greene’s remarks Wednesday come at a time of uncertainty over China’s intentions towards the island it claims as its personal territory – to be taken by power if needed – and amid conflicts in Ukraine and the Center East that threaten to attract the US in additional.
Greene made clear Taiwan was a high precedence, particularly the safety of transport within the essential Taiwan Strait that divides the island and China.
The US will “proceed to keep up the capability to withstand any resort to power or different types of coercion in opposition to Taiwan,” Greene mentioned, referencing the Taiwan Relations Act that ensured such backing following the breaking of formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan in 1979, when Washington normalized relations with the Communist authorities in Beijing.
Greene mentioned the Government Department has notified Congress of roughly $38.4 billion in Overseas Navy Gross sales to Taiwan since 2010, together with over $6.4 billion below the Biden administration, together with the equal of $345 million in transfers of arms from current US shares.
Upgraded and new F-16 jet fighters, Abrams tanks and different gear have arrived or are within the pipeline, whereas Taiwan is increasing its manufacturing of home arms together with submarines and anti-landing and floor to air missiles.
A senior American diplomat, Greene arrived two months in the past to function director of the American Institute in Taiwan, making him America’s de-facto ambassador on the island of 23.5 million those who has lengthy retained robust business, cultural and political hyperlinks with the US
Taiwan was a essential difficulty when US Nationwide Safety Adviser Jake Sullivan visited China final week, aiming to maintain communications open in a relationship that has turn into more and more tense in recent times.
Sullivan, on his first journey to China as the primary adviser to President Joe Biden on nationwide safety points, met with Chinese language chief Xi Jinping, Overseas Minister Wang Yi and a high basic from the Central Navy Fee.
Danny Russel, a vp on the Asia Society Coverage Institute in New York and who served on the nationwide safety council within the Obama administration, mentioned the assembly between Sullivan and Xi was notably necessary as a result of Sullivan was seen by the Chinese language management as “a direct extension” of the US president and that Sullivan’s messaging was seen as “coming straight from (President Joe) Biden.”
Sullivan additionally met considered one of China’s vice chairs of the Central Navy Fee, Gen. Zhang Youxia, final week – a uncommon assembly with a visiting US official.
“China calls for that the USA cease navy collusion between the US and Taiwan, cease arming Taiwan and cease spreading false narratives about Taiwan,” a Chinese language Protection Ministry assertion mentioned, with out elaborating on what the false narratives are.
A White Home assertion mentioned the 2 had “acknowledged the progress in sustained, common military-military communications over the previous 10 months.” On Taiwan, the US assertion mentioned solely that Sullivan had raised the significance of cross-Strait peace and stability.
China suspended communication between the 2 militaries after senior US lawmaker and then-Home Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan in August 2022. Talks solely progressively resumed greater than a 12 months later, after Xi and Biden met exterior San Francisco in November.
The US has lengthy been a cheerleader for Taiwan’s energetic democracy, which stands in stark distinction to China’s authoritarian state. Nonetheless, Greene mentioned Washington wouldn’t touch upon allegations of corruption and abuse of energy which have enveloped former Taipei mayor and presidential candidate Ko Wen-je over latest months.