Taiwan to boost military ties with US to curb ‘authoritarian expansionism’

The US visit comes after a top US defence official reportedly made a rare stopover to Taiwan as US-China tensions flared over alleged Chinese spy balloons

Taiwan will boost military exchanges with the US to curb ‘authoritarian expansionism’ but did not provide further details on future exchanges

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Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen shakes hands with California Representative Ro Khanna during a meeting at the Presidential Office in Taipei on February 21, 2023. Photo: via AP

Published: 6:23pm, 21 Feb 2023

Taiwan will boost military exchanges with the United States to curb “authoritarian expansionism”, President Tsai Ing-wen said on Tuesday after meeting with visiting US lawmakers.

The five-day US congressional visit comes after a top US defence official reportedly made a rare stopover to the self-ruled island while Washington-Beijing tensions flared over alleged Chinese spy balloons.

“Taiwan and the United States continue to bolster military exchanges,” Tsai said after convening with the US delegation at her office in Taipei.

“Going forward, Taiwan will cooperate even more actively with the United States and other democratic partners to confront such global challenges as authoritarian expansionism and climate change.”

Tsai did not provide further details on what the future exchanges might entail.

The five-day US congressional visit comes after a top US defence official reportedly made a rare stopover to the self-ruled island while Washington-Beijing tensions flared over alleged Chinese spy balloons. Photo: EPA-EFE

Washington diplomatically recognises Beijing over Taipei, but is also the self-governing island’s most important international benefactor and supports Taipei’s right to decide its own future.