• Military

• WMD Menu                           

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Amid Ukraine crisis, U.S. reaffirms commitment to Taiwan

ROC Central News Agency

02/17/2022 05:18 PM

Washington, Feb. 17 (CNA) The United States has reaffirmed its commitment to Taiwan amid concerns that a rumored Russian invasion of Ukraine could have knock-on effects for Indo-Pacific security.

During a teleconference on Wednesday, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Kritenbrink said Washington would continue to assist Taiwan in maintaining the capacity to resist any resort to force.

Although Kritenbrink said he would not deal in "hypothetical questions" when asked directly if Washington would come to Taiwan's defense in the event of an invasion, he added that his country's current commitments were "clear under the Taiwan Relations Act."

"The United States' support for Taiwan is rock solid. We will continue to stand with our friends and allies to advance our shared prosperity, security, and values."

The State Department official was addressing concerns that the current focus on Ukraine could lead to a permanent strategic shift by Washington away from the Indo-Pacific region.

While Kritenbrink emphasized that support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity was "unwavering," he added that continued peace and security in the Indo-Pacific was also critical for both the U.S. and "the entire world."

The former ambassador to Vietnam offered a recent regional tour by Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and a joint communique from a 2021 ministerial meeting of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD) as evidence of Washington's desire to "vigorously pursue our strategic engagement" in the region.

After earlier stating that the U.S. would deepen ties with "democratic" Taiwan, Kritenbrink nixed the idea of allowing China into any future Indo-Pacific economic framework.

"It's safe to say that we are engaged in initial conversations with partners across the region, who share our vision for the kind of region that we want to live in. A free and open region in which countries are free from coercion ... And you are correct that there is currently no intention to engage the People's Republic of China."

Meanwhile, the leaders of Australia and the United Kingdom -- which, alongside the U.S., make up the trilateral Indo-Pacific AUKUS security pact -- also referenced Taiwan while laying out a firm stance on Russia's threats to Ukraine's sovereignty in a video call on Thursday.

After warning Moscow against invading, U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Australian counterpart Scott Morrison also called for peace across the Taiwan Strait while expressing concerns about China's actions in Xinjiang, according to Reuters.

The joint statement on Taiwan came following the announcement of US$34 million in funding from the U.K. to bolster Indo-Pacific security.

(By Stacy Hsu and Adam Graudus)

Enditem