US defense secretary affirms Washington’s commitments to Taiwan amid growing China threat | Taiwan News
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TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin reiterated Washington’s defense commitments to Taiwan amid increasing Chinese hostilities during a defense forum on Saturday, December 4th.
In a speech at the Reagan National Defense Forum, Austin said China was the only country “able to combine its economic, diplomatic, military and technological power to challenge a stable and open international system on a sustained basis.” He pointed out that Beijing was well on its way to becoming a major US competitor in the Indo-Pacific and “ultimately around the world”.
The Defense Minister added that “China’s leaders are expanding their ability to project armed forces and develop a global network of military bases.”
Regarding Taiwan, Austin said the US is firmly adhering to its one-China policy and obligations under the Taiwan Relations Act “to support Taiwan’s ability to defend itself.” The US also retains the ability to resist any attempt that threatens Taiwan’s security, he said.
Austin stressed that the US is working to strengthen deterrence, not trying to change the status quo in the strait.
“We are also pursuing a more dispersed force in the Indo-Pacific – one that will help us build deterrence and coercion and move forward with our trusted allies and partners,” he said. This includes more joint military exercises and the expansion of R&D cooperation with regional allies. It also includes “promoting the helpful and growing security role our European allies play in the region,” Austin said.
The Defense Minister underlined the importance of strengthening the “security architecture of the region” and said that groups such as the Quad, AUKUS, the Five Eyes and the trilateral relations between the US, Japan and South Korea are helping Washington establish a presence in the Indo-Pacific.
Austin stressed that Washington is not seeking to create another iteration of NATO or an anti-China coalition, and is not forcing countries to choose between the US and China. He reiterated President Joe Biden’s remark last month that it is the responsibility of the two countries to ensure that competition does not escalate into conflict, “whether intentional or unintentional.”
“We’re going to stick to what President Biden called” easy, no-hassle competition, “said Austin.
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