Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen says US National Guard planning ‘cooperation’ with island’s military

The island’s leader made the comments during a meeting with visiting US Senator Tammy Duckworth

Beijing was angered by Joe Biden apparently suggesting a change to the US policy of ‘strategic ambiguity’ over its response to any attack from mainland China

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Tsai Ing-wen welcomed US senator Tammy Duckworth to Taipei. Photo: AP

Published: 3:08pm, 31 May 2022Updated: 5:14pm, 31 May 2022

The United States is planning “cooperation” between its National Guard and Taiwan’s military, the island’s President Tsai Ing-wen said on Tuesday, deepening security ties in the face of what Taipei’s government complains is a rising threat from mainland China.

The United States is Taiwan’s most important international supporter and arms supplier, despite the lack of formal diplomatic ties. China has been stepping up its military activities near Taiwan to assert its sovereignty claims.

China’s military said last week it had recently conducted an exercise around Taiwan as a “solemn warning” against “collusion” with the United States.

That came after US President Joe Biden angered China by appearing to signal a change in the US policy of “strategic ambiguity” on Taiwan by saying the United States would get involved militarily if mainland China were to attack the island. US officials said there had been no change in policy.

Meeting visiting US senator Tammy Duckworth at her office in Taipei, Tsai noted that Duckworth was one of the main sponsors of the Taiwan Partnership Act, which received bipartisan support in the US Congress though has yet to become law.

“As a result, the US Department of Defence is now proactively planning cooperation between the US National Guard and Taiwan’s defence forces,” Tsai said, without giving details.

Taiwanese media has previously reported that Taiwan could partner with Hawaii’s National Guard for the programme.