U.S. appears to be like to develop Taiwan navy coaching -sources By Reuters

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The US is ready to develop the variety of troops serving to prepare Taiwanese forces, two U.S. officers stated on Thursday, at a time of heightened tensions between Washington and Beijing.

Reuters reported in 2021 {that a} small variety of U.S. particular operations forces have been rotating into Taiwan on a brief foundation to coach their forces.

The officers, talking on situation of anonymity, stated that the Pentagon was anticipated to extend that quantity within the coming months.

One of many officers stated the precise variety of elevated troops was unclear, however the transfer was unrelated to latest tensions over the shootdown of a Chinese language spy balloon which flew throughout the USA.

The balloon precipitated a political uproar in Washington and prompted Secretary of State Antony Blinken to cancel a visit to Beijing that each international locations had hoped would regular their rocky relations.

“We do not have a touch upon particular operations, engagements, or coaching, however I might spotlight that our assist for, and protection relationship with, Taiwan stays aligned in opposition to the present risk posed by the Individuals’s Republic of China,” a Pentagon spokesman stated.

Talking to reporters in Taipei on Friday, Taiwan Protection Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng stated he “did not know” the supply of the details about expanded coaching. He added Taiwan and the USA had loads of navy interplay, and declined additional remark.

The information was first reported by the Wall Road Journal.

Taiwan’s official Central Information Company this week reported {that a} battalion of round 500 troopers would go to the USA for coaching this 12 months.

Chu not directly confirmed that some troopers would head to the USA for coaching that might be extra tactical than up to now, however didn’t present particulars of numbers.

China sees Taiwan as a wayward province and has not dominated out taking the island by power. Taiwan says it’s an impartial nation and can defend its democracy and freedom.

The US is Taiwan’s largest provider of weaponry and has lengthy provided some extent of coaching on weapons techniques, in addition to detailed recommendation on methods to strengthen its navy to protect in opposition to an invasion by China’s Peoples Liberation Military.