Washington, March 15 (CNA) The commander of the US Pacific Command said on Wednesday that US Pacific forces are ready and capable of carrying out their current responsibilities under the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA).
"They are capable and ready to 'resist any resort to force or other forms of coercion that would jeopardize the security or social or economic system of the people of Taiwan,'" Adm. Dennis C. Blair said at a congressional hearing on the Pentagon's fiscal 2001 budget plan.
Blair made the assurances in response to concern expressed by House of Representatives members from both the Republican and Democratic parties.
Tension across the Taiwan Strait has escalated in the run-up to the Republic of China's March 18 presidential election. Beijing has issued blunt warnings to Taiwan voters in attempts to influence the electoral result.
In response to US House members' concern about Taiwan's security, Blair said the US Pacific forces "are ready and capable" of carrying out their mission of assisting in defending Taiwan's security in line with the TRA.
Blair further said during his recent trip to Beijing, he had told mainland Chinese military brass and civilian leaders that it is crucial that Taiwan Strait issues should be resolved by peaceful means. (By Nelson Chung and Sofia Wu)
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