U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin announced that he would soon provide significant additional security assistance to Taiwan.
Secretary Austin appeared at a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on the competition with China on the 16th (local time) and said, “The United States will soon provide significant additional security assistance to Taiwan.”
This support is said to be made through the Presidential Use Authorization (PDA) approved by Congress last year. “It is part of a longstanding commitment to comply with our obligations under the Taiwan Relations Act and other US policies,” said Secretary Austin.
The Taiwan Relations Act of 1979 acts as a basis for continuing relations between the United States and Taiwan in the fields of commerce and culture. It also gives Taiwan a reason to support arms under the recognition that Taiwan’s future should not be determined by means other than peaceful means.
Secretary Austin explained that the additional security support mentioned on the day is also part of the effort to maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. “We need to remain a reliable partner,” he added.
At the hearing that day, Minister Austin did not explain the specific scale or details.
On the other hand, Secretary Austin said that the Pentagon is doing its best to continue competition with China.
“China has been increasing its provocative actions in the Indo-Pacific region,” he said.
“A war (with China) is neither imminent nor inevitable,” he stressed, “but we must confront China’s growing display of presence.”
He also said that the Department of Defense should invest in a more resilient presence posture and innovative and massive combat power in the Indo-Pacific region.
In this context, he explained that the budget for the Pacific Deterrence Initiative (PDI) aimed at strengthening the US military in the region this year was increased by 40% from the previous year to a record high of 9.1 billion dollars (approximately 12 trillion won).
Secretary Austin said that day that China was a “pacing challenge,” but “we must be careful when choosing the word challenge,” adding, “The United States is not pursuing confrontation, conflict, or a new Cold War.”
However, he added, “The United States never backs down from the competition and is working to strengthen the guardrails that will prevent clashes with both our rivals and allies.”
In the remarks that day, it was also discussed that the United States is expanding security cooperation with South Korea, India, Thailand, and Singapore, and deepening relations with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Quad.
[워싱턴=뉴시스]
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.