The US aims to expand its involvement in East Asia amid concerns that China may use its growing military clout to coerce its neighbors or move against Taiwan, US military officials told Congress on Wednesday.
The officials also promised to provide Taiwan with weapons to protect itself from a possible Chinese attack, despite Beijing’s warning that such sales are meddling and could lead to conflict.
Speaking to US lawmakers at a congressional hearing, they said that China was boosting preparations for a short, intense fight against Taiwan. Its military buildup, which includes more than 1,000 ballistic missiles deployed opposite Taiwan, is in stark contrast to the improved ties between the rivals since the March 2008 election of President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九).
The comments come as the US prepares for an expected announcement of arms sales for Taiwan and follows China’s announcement on Monday that its military intercepted a missile in mid-flight in a test of new technology.
The commander of US forces in the Pacific, Admiral Robert Willard, said that Beijing’s military advancements had worsened the already heavy combat imbalance between China and Taiwan.
Willard told lawmakers that the US military was trying to reconcile China’s claims that its forces are defensive with a military capability that is growing more powerful and outward-looking.
That “can only occur through continuous, frank conversations and a strong and mature military-to-military relationship — a relationship that does not yet exist with the People’s Liberation Army,” Willard said, referring to China’s army.
US-Chinese military ties are only just now improving after Beijing cut contact following the announcement by the administration of then US president George W. Bush in 2008 of a US$6.5 billion arms sale to Taiwan.
The upcoming arms sales to Taiwan will test whether the efforts of the administration of US President Barack Obama to establish greater trust with China’s leaders will keep Beijing from cutting military ties in retaliation.
The US officials also urged China to be more open about its growing military and its intentions.
Willard said China was seeking to deploy its first aircraft carrier, an important way to project power far beyond its shores. China purchased an unfinished former Soviet Kuznetsov class aircraft carrier in 1998 and began renovations in 2002.
“I expect this carrier to become operational around 2012,” Willard said.
US Assistant Secretary of Defense Wallace Gregson said some aspects of China’s military could restrict US access to the region or allow China to attack or coerce its neighbors.
“China’s growing capabilities also entail greater responsibility,” Gregson said.
He said the US saw risks that China might “one day calculate it has reached the tipping point in the Taiwan Strait and issue an ultimatum.”
The Obama administration needs to make sure China clearly understands US interests and does not challenge them, Gregson said.
“China can and should do more” to help Washington address crises in North Korea, Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan and other global hotspots, he said.
FREEDOM OF NAVIGATION: The UK would continue to reinforce ties with Taiwan ‘in a wide range of areas’ as a part of a ‘strong unofficial relationship,’ a paper said The UK plans to conduct more freedom of navigation operations in the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea, British Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs David Lammy told the British House of Commons on Tuesday. British Member of Parliament Desmond Swayne said that the Royal Navy’s HMS Spey had passed through the Taiwan Strait “in pursuit of vital international freedom of navigation in the South China Sea.” Swayne asked Lammy whether he agreed that it was “proper and lawful” to do so, and if the UK would continue to carry out similar operations. Lammy replied “yes” to both questions. The
Two US House of Representatives committees yesterday condemned China’s attempt to orchestrate a crash involving Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim’s (蕭美琴) car when she visited the Czech Republic last year as vice president-elect. Czech local media in March last year reported that a Chinese diplomat had run a red light while following Hsiao’s car from the airport, and Czech intelligence last week told local media that Chinese diplomats and agents had also planned to stage a demonstrative car collision. Hsiao on Saturday shared a Reuters news report on the incident through her account on social media platform X and wrote: “I
SHIFT PRIORITIES: The US should first help Taiwan respond to actions China is already taking, instead of focusing too heavily on deterring a large-scale invasion, an expert said US Air Force leaders on Thursday voiced concerns about the Chinese People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) missile capabilities and its development of a “kill web,” and said that the US Department of Defense’s budget request for next year prioritizes bolstering defenses in the Indo-Pacific region due to the increasing threat posed by China. US experts said that a full-scale Chinese invasion of Taiwan is risky and unlikely, with Beijing more likely to pursue coercive tactics such as political warfare or blockades to achieve its goals. Senior air force and US Space Force leaders, including US Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink and
Czech officials have confirmed that Chinese agents surveilled Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) during her visit to Prague in March 2024 and planned a collision with her car as part of an “unprecedented” provocation by Beijing in Europe. Czech Military Intelligence learned that their Chinese counterparts attempted to create conditions to carry out a demonstrative incident involving Hsiao, which “did not go beyond the preparation stage,” agency director Petr Bartovsky told Czech Radio in a report yesterday. In addition, a Chinese diplomat ran a red light to maintain surveillance of the Taiwanese
RSS