U.S.-Taiwan forum weighs impact of Trump policies on national defense

ROC Central News Agency

2017/10/15 16:23:20

Taipei, Oct. 15 (CNA) An annual conference between Taiwan the United States, which opens Sunday in New Jersey, will focus this year on the policies of U.S. President Donald Trump's administration on Northeast Asia and their potential impact on Taiwan's defense affairs.

The 2017 U.S.-Taiwan Defense Industry Conference will also discuss the threat and response options for Taiwan and how it could exploit China's weakness in both traditional and emerging domains, covering air, land, sea and cyberspace, according to information on the conference's website.

Now in its 16th year, the conference is considered an important platform for dialogue on Taiwan's national security needs, weapons procurement and defense cooperation with the U.S.

The Taiwan delegation to the three-day conference in Princeton is being led by Deputy Defense Minister General Chang Guan-chung (張冠群), who will deliver a keynote address on Oct. 16.

Chang is scheduled to speak after introductory remarks by American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Chairman James F. Moriarty.

On the U.S. side, David F. Helvey, acting assistant secretary of defense for Asian and Pacific security affairs, will also give a keynote speech later in the day.

The discussions at the conference will include input by Ian Easton, research fellow at the U.S-based think tank Project 2049 Institute and author of "The Chinese Invasion Threat."

On Oct. 17, business representatives from Taiwan's information security, shipbuilding, and aviation industries will join the discussions.

The participants will examine the potential implications of the Trump administration's policies for developing business opportunities in the defense and security industries in both Taiwan and the United States.

The annual conference, which is being held Oct.15-17, has been hosted by the U.S.-Taiwan Business Council since 2002.

At the first conference, which was held in Florida, Taiwan's then Minister of National Defense Tang Yiau-ming (湯矅明) gave the keynote address. ( By Lu Hsin-hui and Joseph Yeh)

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