US Congressional Research Service ‘Taiwan Security’ Report
Mention of “abolition of strategic ambiguity with China”
China will be poised for a successful invasion of Taiwan by 2027, the 100th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Liberation Army and the start of President Xi Jinping’s fourth term in power, a report from the US Congressional Research Service (CRS) has come out. He also mentioned the insistence of some in the US that the policy of “strategic ambiguity” that had continued since the establishment of diplomatic ties with China in 1979 should be abolished. The United States has not clearly stated whether or not it directly intervened in China’s invasion of Taiwan.
CRS quoted William Burns, director of the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), in a report titled “Taiwan Politics and Security Issues” on the 17th and said, “With the modernization of the Chinese military, the balance of military power on both sides of the Strait has shifted in favor of China. Taiwan’s military capabilities are high, but its budget is less than one-tenth of the Chinese military’s, and it faces problems with equipment and readiness,” he said. “The United States is focused on preventing China’s amphibious invasion, but there are some claims in Taiwan that this approach is vulnerable to China’s military pressure,” he said.
The report also said, “Some lawmakers are arguing for the abolition of ‘strategic ambiguity’ on the grounds that the US should make a clearer promise to defend Taiwan.” US President Joe Biden is sending mixed messages about this, but he also said that “the US will defend Taiwan” four times since August 2021.
The report comes as Republican leadership urged President Biden to expand arms aid to Taiwan in next year’s budget. It is known that the White House and the State Department will soon hold a ‘special channel’ meeting with senior Taiwanese officials to discuss support for Taiwan’s defense.
The discussion on Korea’s role theory is expected to continue. In the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which was passed last December, the U.S. Congress mandated the situation of military procurement by Asian allies, including South Korea, in preparation for China’s invasion of Taiwan. On the 20th, former National Intelligence Director’s Office (ONDI) North Korea Intelligence Analyst Marcus Gulluskus commented on the Washington Post (WP) on the 20th, “Whether South Korea supports Taiwan or maintains neutrality is an important factor when China decides to invade Taiwan.” .
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Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.