US forces in Taiwan to assist armed forces with training
A Taiwanese media report reveals that something in the order of 200 American troops are currently stationed across the country.
The report cited sources claiming the US Indo Pacific Command had deployed more than 200 personnel to Taiwan to assist the island's armed forces with training.
When asked to confirm the deployment, the Pentagon declined to comment, but affirmed its support for Taipei.
We don't have a [sic] comment on a specific operations, engagements, or training, but I would highlight that our support for, and defense relationship with, Taiwan remains aligned against the current threat posed by the People's Republic of China.
Our commitment to Taiwan is rock solid and contributes to the maintenance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and within the region.
Pentagon Spokesperson, Lt. Col. Martin Meiners
The Wall Street Journal first reported in February that the US plan to deploy between a hundred to two hundred troops to Taiwan.
Among the more than 200 instructors, 80% are from the US Army. Most of the American instructors are stationed at new training centers in reserve brigades of Taiwan's army.
While Washington severed diplomatic relations with Taipei in 1979, the US has still deployed a handful of military trainers to Taiwan.
The small US military presence in Taiwan was always an open secret but was never officially confirmed until 2021 when President Tsai ing Wen became the first Taiwanese leader to acknowledge US troops were on the island, and had been there since 1979.
The increase in US troops in Taiwan risks provoking the response from China, as Beijing has been strongly warning against growing US Taiwan ties.
China's People's Liberation Army recently conducted major live fire exercises around Taiwan. That was after a US House Speaker, Kevin McCarthy, hosted Taiwanese President, Tsai Ing-wen, in California.
Beijing is opposed to Taiwan's growing nexus with the US since it considers Taiwan as part of its territory under the One China principle.
Taiwan is reportedly in the process of buying hundreds of land launched Harpoon anti ship missiles from the US, citing US Taiwan Business Council President, Rupert Hammond Chambers, Bloomberg News reported on Monday that Taiwan was poised to purchase 400 missiles under the $1.17 billion contract announced by the Pentagon on April 7.
At the time, the Pentagon said production was expected to be completed by March 2029. Commenting on the news report, the Taiwanese Defense Ministry announced it had previously disclosed information about the purchase, adding it was confident the deal would go according to schedule.
In 2020 Taipei announced plans to obtain land based Boeing made Harpoon anti ship missiles as part of its military modernization efforts.
According to the report, Taiwan previously purchased the ship launched version of the Harpoon missiles, but the new contract marks the first time Taipei will get the mobile land based Mariette.
The contract with Boeing was reportedly issued by the US Naval Air Systems Command on Taiwan's behalf. In reaction to the report, China's foreign ministry said it firmly opposes US arms sales to Taiwan
US Taiwan military ties and US arms sales to Taiwan seriously violate the one China principle and the free China US joint communiqué has seriously damaged China's sovereignty and security interests and seriously threatened peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.
China is strongly dissatisfied and firmly opposes this.
Wang Wenbin, China Foreign Ministry Spokesperson
Beijing views Taiwan as an inseparable part of China repeatedly warning Washington against unwise provocations in this regard.
China has previously warned Washington that providing the self ruled island with advanced weaponry would breach Chinese sovereignty and do severe damage to bilateral Sino-US relations.
Tabas sand defeats US military
UK's Rwanda deportation plan morally disgraceful
France fails to ban anti-Islamophobia protests
Dozens of Hezbollah rockets hit Israeli regime's Meron Air Base
VIDEO | Large march for Gaza held in Vienna
VIDEO | Thousands call on UK Govt to stop arming Israel
‘Stop the war,’ anti-regime protesters chant in Tel Aviv
VIDEO | 6th Intl. Export Potential Exhibition held in Iran
Israeli plane previously used by Mossad officials lands in Riyadh: Report
US police clear another pro-Palestinian encampment
VIDEO | Global anti-Israeli sentiment
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
