According to U.S. officials, the United States plans to deploy between 100 and 200 troops in Taiwan in the upcoming months. The larger force will expand a training program to provide Taipei with the capabilities it needs to defend itself from growing Chinese forces.
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The additional service members represent a major buildup from the roughly 30 U.S. forces stationed in Taiwan at this time last year, according to sources. The additional troops will train Taiwanese forces on military maneuvers and operating U.S produced weapons systems.
Relation between US and China
The relationship between the US and China has been strained after Washington shot down a suspected Chinese spy balloon that Beijing said was an unmanned weather balloon.
Both countries are also opposed to the war in Ukraine. In the Munich Security Conference, Anthony Blinken accused China of planning to provide lethal support to Russia and warned that “it would have serious consequences in our relationship.”
“There are various kinds of lethal assistance that they are at least contemplating providing, including weapons.” Blinken said.
China has refused to condemn the Ukraine war or call it an invasion. The West believes that a Russian victory would color China’s actions towards Taiwan.
Taiwan will boost military exchanges with the United States to curb “authoritarian expansion,” President Tsai Ing-wen said after meeting with US lawmakers in Taiwan on Tuesday.
“Taiwan and the United States continue to bolster military exchanges,” Tsai said. “It was time to explore even more opportunities for cooperation” between the US and Taiwan.
She also said that together they can safeguard the values of democracy and freedom.
On Friday, Taiwan’s Defense Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng said he didn’t know the source of the information about expanded training. He added that Taiwan and the United States had a lot of military interaction but declined to make any further comment.
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