Tsai says Taiwan bolstering military ties with US amid threats from China

Taiwan is bolstering its
military ties with the United States and will cooperate even
more closely with it and other friendly nations to deal with
“authoritarian expansionism”, President Tsai Ing-wen told
visiting US lawmakers.

The United States, like most countries, has no formal
diplomatic ties with Chinese-claimed Taiwan but is the island’s
most important international backer and arms supplier, a
consistent source of friction in Sino-US relations.

While the United States no longer maintains military bases
in Taiwan, the two have a good military relationship that has
become closer as China steps up pressure to try and force Taiwan
to accept Chinese sovereignty.

“Taiwan and the United States continue to bolster military
exchanges, and going forward Taiwan will cooperate even more
actively with the United States and other democratic partners to
confront such global challenges as authoritarian expansionism
and climate change,” Tsai told the lawmakers at her office in
Taipei.

She gave no details.

READ MORE: What are key developments in US-Taiwan ties?

Senior US officials visit Taiwan

Illustrating those close military ties with the United States, US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for China Michael Chase, arrived in Taiwan last week for a visit, two sources familiar with the matter said earlier. It was not clear if he was still in Taiwan.

Ro Khanna, a member of the US House China Select Committee
and who is leading the US bipartisan delegation, told Tsai the
group was there to strengthen both security and economic ties.

In August, China staged military exercises near Taiwan to
express anger at then-US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to
Taipei.

Taiwan’s rejects China’s sovereignty claims and says only the Taiwanese people can decide their future.

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