ILLUSTRATIVE IMAGE: US NAVY / Reuters
On November 5th, Taiwan’s Minister of National Defense Yen De-fa claimed that the country “will consider” hosting US warships if Washington were to ask to use the largest Spratly Islands in the South China Sea for security purposes.
Yen De-Fa was answering hypothetical questions of a member of the opposition, Johnny Chiang in the Legislative Yuan. According to the Defense Minister, US warships could also possibly be allowed to dock at Taiping island, which is under Taipei’s control for humanitarian operations.
Yen told Chiang that despite the island being for humanitarian purposes, the Taiwan government would consider using it for regional security if that suited the country’s interests.
“If it is based on security concerns that would affect the region, we will consider that,” Yen said. “This must also be in line with our national interests.”
According to Chiang, the regular presence of US aircraft carriers in the South China Sea was aimed at checking the military expansion of Beijing. He also claimed that the US might eventually make a port call at Taiping island in addition to Singapore and the Philippines.
On November 8th, Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen also announced that he commissioned two US-made submarine hunter frigates. The two former US Perry-class guided missile frigates are aimed at boosting the island’s anti-submarine defense.
The PFG-1112 Ming Chuan and PFG-1115 Feng Chia are equipped with the American-made SQR-19 sonar system, giving them a far superior anti-submarine performance than the navy’s existing eight Chengkung-class frigates built by Taiwan, according to naval officers cited by the South China Morning Post.
The frigates are also equipped with the MK13 guided missile launch system, designed to fire RGM-84 Harpoon Block II missiles as an anti-ship defense.
“Through the commission of Ming Chuan and Feng Chia, we want to send a clear message to the world … that we are not only devoted to strengthening our armaments but are determined to safeguard the Republic of China in Taiwan as well as our free and democratic way of life,” Tsai said during a commissioning ceremony at the naval port of Zuoying in Kaohsiung, southern Taiwan.
“We will not retreat an inch,” she said, referring to alleged increased military intimidation from China.
The US in addition to constantly provoking China in the South China Sea is also pressuring Beijing in regard to Taiwan.
On September 25th, the US approved a $330 million arms sale to Taiwan. The proposed deal covers parts for Taiwan’s F-16, C-130, F-5, Indigenous Defense Fighter and other aircraft systems.
China immediately reacted calling for the US to halt all weapons sales to Taiwan. Beijing claimed that the deal damaged Chinese sovereignty and its security interests.
“China urges the US to . . . immediately withdraw the arms sales plan and stop military to military relations between the United States and Taiwan so as to avoid further damage to Chinese-US relations and peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait,” said Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang.
The sale would contribute to US national security by boosting Taiwan’s defensive capability, the Pentagon’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency said in a statement.
It added that Taiwan “continues to be an important force for political stability, military balance and economic progress in the region.”
The constant US pressure on China, including provocations in the South China Sea, Taiwan, military drills with Japan and the trade war is so far succeeding one thing – pushing China into closer relations with Russia.
Americans will turn Taiwan into another Okinawa.
This would be a dangerous development for the region. But it fits with the escalating tensions in other parts of the globe, anyone of which could trigger World War Three.
The world is heading for nuclear war. The pattern of history is being fulfilled.
• Power, (manifested as interest) was present in very conflict in history – no exception. It is the underlying motivation for war. Interest cuts across all apparently unifying principles: family, kin, nation, religion, ideology, politics – everything. We unite with the enemies of our principles, because that is what serves our interest. It is the one thing we will destroy ourselves for, as well as everyone else.
• History shows that every civilization/nation eventually gets the war it is trying to avoid: utter defeat. This applies as much today as any other time in history.
• Leaders and decision-makers delude themselves, thinking they can avoid their fate – they can’t. If survival is threatened, there is no alternative to war, however destructive.
https://www.ghostsofhistory.wordpress.com/
Taiwan belong to China, and USA-UK must respect the agreement to return Taiwan to China and to stop
promoting division every where in the world, in particular in Taiwan. China even has the right to invade Taiwan it that is necessary.
Unfortunately, in my view, the invasion of Taiwan by China is exactly what the Yankers want.
Exactly, US-UK want to provoke a war with China, that is why they will not return Taiwan to China from good will.
And Siberia ;)
Taiwan belongs to the Taiwanese people who have voted against becoming part of China. Power to the People not the bloody dictators.
Yes, these are the arguments given by USA-UK to reject China request since the year 2000 (expert to handle public opinions). Meanwhile, USA-UK are arming Taiwan with any sophisticated weapon as possible. Taiwan is just an USA-UK puppet.
Thought the people of Taiwan chose their own leaders? The people of China cannot chose their own leaders. Just the opposite is true in China where the leaders chose the people. In China if you fail to fully support the leaders and do whatever they tell you then your life and the lives of your whole family and relatives are in danger. Surprised you believe anyone should have to live that way.
I don’t know what the Chinese government is smoking, but they are dreaming when they believe that they can forever keep increasing their demands for control over the rest of the world.
Which demands are you talking about? China just wants the reunification of the country, Sun Yat Sen lost the civil war, Mao won.
USA using Taiwan against China trying to preserve their unipolar domination, that train has left long ago, You are demented.
“China just wants the reunification of the country”
Sure, they just want Tibet, Taiwan, the Senkaku Islands, part of Tadjikistan, the South Chinese Sea, half of Assam. And by the time they have all of that they certainly will have some more wishes
And the US has troops in 149 out of 197 countries in the world.
China can’t really allow Taiwan (Chinese Taipei) to be a traitorous renegade province for much longer.
The administration of the island must have suicidal tendencies.
PRC should insist Chinese Taipei either fully demilitarizes/unifies it’s military with the PLA, or they get economically blockaded till they do.