Taiwan should invest more in national defense: U.S. official
ROC Central News Agency
2017/09/15 20:33:34
Washington, Sept. 14 (CNA) A U.S. Department of Defense official made key recommendations for Taiwan's national defense at the Global Taiwan Institute's (GTI) annual symposium on Thursday.
David Helvey, the principal deputy assistant secretary of defense for Asian and Pacific Security Affairs, recommended that Taiwan make major investments in national defense and the protection of the country, particularly increasing the amount, not just in GDP terms, but also for manpower and talent, spent on protecting the country.
This would involve making the proper arrangements to ensure the balance between a drafted military and a volunteer military, as well as investing in weapons and equipment suitable for asymmetric warfare, Helvey said.
He argued that Taiwan needs to focus its limited resources on improving its military capabilities while cultivating a military force that can face up to cyber, naval, and aerial threats and be prepared for other threats, including from natural disasters.
At the inaugural annual symposium, Helvey reiterated the Trump administration's commitment to the Taiwan Relations Act and the Six Assurances, both of which supported U.S.-Taiwan relations even after diplomatic ties were severed in 1979.
The U.S. will therefore help Taiwan with its defense needs, he said.
(By Rita Cheng and Kuan-lin Liu)
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