Beijing pushes back at US troops on Taiwan but no sudden move expected
- Tsai Ing-wen’s revelation is unlikely to lead to any drastic move, but military preparations against the island may intensify
- Taiwanese officials move quickly to downplay her remarks, which analysts describe as a ‘serious provocation’
Taiwan officials moved quickly to downplay Tsai’s remarks. Defence Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng stressed the US troops were not stationed on the island. “There are military exchanges between Taiwan and the US and in such exchanges several of their people have come here to help in our training. This is not a garrison.”
He also said the purpose of the exchanges was to strengthen the island’s defence capability. “Though assistance from any friendly country or group would have certain help for Taiwan, in the event of safeguarding our country we should not rely on others.”
Chinese defence ministry spokesman Tan Kefei said on Thursday China had already protested to the US about its military ties with Taiwan. “If the US continues to stubbornly cling to the illusion of ‘using Taiwan to contain China’ and attempts to substantially enhance US-Taiwan military ties bit by bit, China will resolutely counter and fight back,” he said.
Tsai would not say exactly how many US military personnel are currently on the island, but said it was “not as many as people thought”. In confirming what has long been reported, she explained that Taiwan had a “wide range of cooperation with the US aimed at increasing our defence capability”.
Mainland observers said Beijing would take the first official confirmation of a US military presence on the island as a highly provocative move.