Taiwan’s Defense Minister on Thursday voiced strong confidence in the United States’ ability to deter any potential military action by China, underscoring growing security ties between Taipei and Washington amid rising cross-strait tensions.
Speaking at a legislative hearing, Defense Minister Wellington Koo stated that the U.S. remains a “reliable and capable” partner, capable of responding swiftly to threats in the Indo-Pacific region. His remarks come days after Beijing conducted large-scale military drills around Taiwan, widely seen as a show of force following the inauguration of Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te.
“We are fully confident that the United States, along with other like-minded partners, can effectively prevent any unilateral changes to the status quo by force,” Koo said. He highlighted continued U.S. arms sales and joint training initiatives as key elements of Taiwan’s defense strategy.
While Taiwan has ramped up its own military modernization efforts, officials in Taipei have repeatedly emphasized the importance of international partnerships to counter China’s growing assertiveness. The U.S. has not formally committed to defending Taiwan in the event of an attack, but its policy of “strategic ambiguity” is increasingly being tested.
Koo’s statement is likely to be welcomed by pro-defense lawmakers in Washington, many of whom have called for deeper cooperation with Taiwan, including faster delivery of defense equipment and more frequent high-level exchanges.
China considers Taiwan a breakaway province and has not ruled out the use of force to bring the island under its control. Taiwan, which has its own democratic government, maintains that it is already an independent nation.
Analysts say Koo’s confidence reflects a broader shift in Taiwan’s defense posture — one that relies on both self-reliance and strengthened alliances to ensure stability in the Taiwan Strait.
source: taiwannews.com