Askume North, Sept 19 – Taiwan’s defence minister said Taiwan’s combat effectiveness had improved due to deeper security partnerships with the United States and other friends and “allies” but deliberately kept a low profile.
China claims that democratically-ruled Taiwan has no treaty-based defence relationship with Washington or any of its allies, although the United States is legally obligated to provide Taiwan with the means to defend itself and Indian military officers have visited and trained with both sides.
Beijing often bristles at any suggestion that a country has military ties with Taiwan and has repeatedly imposed sanctions on US arms companies selling weapons to Taiwan.
Given the sensitive nature of these relationships, Defence Minister Wellington made rare comments to reporters on Wednesday, and these were limited until Thursday.
“Over the years, friends and allies such as Taiwan and the United States have continually strengthened security partnerships and expanded and deepened military cooperation,” he said.
“It has contributed to improving the combat effectiveness of the country’s military and maintaining regional peace and stability.”
Guo said the focus of the cooperation is “substantial improvement” in combat effectiveness, not just a formality.
“The Ministry of National Defense has never promoted such foreign military cooperation. It is in line with the international situation and also out of respect for our friends and allies,” he said, indirectly referring to China.
Beijing has never renounced the use of force to bring Taiwan under its control and has been conducting regular exercises around the island for the past five years.
Soon after Lai Ching-te became president in late May, China carried out “punitive” military exercises around Taiwan . The exercises were done to express anger at what Beijing considered “separatist” content in his inaugural address. Mr. Lai repeatedly offered talks with China, but was rejected. He said only the people of Taiwan can decide their future.
In 1949, the Republic of China government fled to Taiwan after losing the civil war against the Communists led by Mao Zedong, and the official name of Taiwan still remains. To date, no peace treaty or ceasefire agreement has been signed.
