Taiwan’s defence ministry says it intends to deepen collaboration with the United States, including reciprocal visits and observation of military exercises, to help maintain peace and stability in the region.
The United States, like most countries, has no formal diplomatic ties with Chinese-claimed Taiwan, but is the island’s most important international backer and is bound by law to provide Taiwan with the means to defend itself.
In a report to Parliament, the ministry said the United States is an important strategic partner.
“Our armed forces continue to strengthen Taiwan-U.S. communication channels and advance multi-domain, multi-level strategic cooperation on defence and security,” it said.
“Looking ahead, we plan to gradually expand and deepen cooperation,” it added.
Those areas include high-level strategic and security policy dialogues and reciprocal visits, observation of exercises and discussions on operational issues “so as to jointly maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait”, the ministry said.
Reuters/Jide Johnson.