US is building allies network to counter China’s threat, top diplomat to Taiwan says By Reuters

Written by Yimou Li and Fabian Hamacher

TAIPEI (Reuters) – The United States is building a network of alliances in the Indo-Pacific region to counter China’s threats there, the top U.S. diplomat in Taiwan said on Wednesday, adding that the island was not Beijing’s only target in its bid to change the status quo.

The United States is Taiwan’s most important backer and arms supplier, despite its lack of formal relations with the island, and Raymond Green, the newly appointed director of the American Institute in Taiwan and de facto U.S. ambassador, was speaking to reporters in Taipei.

“The United States is building a network of alliances in the Indo-Pacific to enhance our deterrence capabilities,” Green said, adding that Taiwan is not the only target of Chinese efforts “to use intimidation and coercion to change the status quo,” and as a result more and more countries are joining forces to preserve the rules-based international order.

These efforts, along with Taiwan’s “impressive” defense investments and military reforms, are aimed at preventing war, not preparing for it, he said.

“Maintaining the strategic balance in the Taiwan Strait and the broader Indo-Pacific region will promote peaceful dialogue to resolve disputes between the two sides,” said Green, who delivered his speech in Chinese.

China has stepped up military and political pressure to force democratically-ruled Taiwan to accept its claims to sovereignty in recent years, and in May held war games around the island following the inauguration of President Tsai Ing-wen, a man Beijing describes as a “separatist.”

Joint production of weapons?

Green also said the United States would not rule out the possibility of jointly producing weapons with Taiwan, adding that the island’s defense needs were the top priority for US arms deliveries.

“The United States is now working with a number of partners to explore the possibilities of expanding our joint production of military supplies, and I would not rule out Taiwan being one of those partners in the future,” Green said, without elaborating.

China has never shied away from using force to bring the island under its control, while Taiwan’s government has vowed to defend itself and rejected Chinese claims of sovereignty.

Green took up his post last July, and previously served as deputy chief of mission at the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo.

He said the United States is also working with Taiwan to bolster its emergency response, another top priority for the Lai government, including strengthening the island’s resilience in communications, cybersecurity and energy supplies.

“We look forward to helping Taiwan apply its expertise in dealing with (problems ranging from) natural disasters to confronting potential man-made threats.”