U.S. and Taiwan increase military interaction as Washington considers to create military counterbalance against China

Over the past year, there are signs that military exchange between Taiwan and the US have increased. Earlier this week, Reuters reported that the United States Congress have received multiple notifications that the State Department and White House have approved several military sales to Taiwan, including MQ-9 drones and a coastal defensive missile system.

Derek Grossman, a senior defense analyst at the Rand Corporation, said that these are the types of systems that can enhance Taiwan’s defense capabilities “in a cost-effective and asymmetric manner.”

“In the past, the U.S. arms sales to Taiwan have varied widely,” said Grossman. “At times, they prioritize asymmetric defense capabilities while also promoting big ticket items like F-16s. I think the U.S. may have turned a corner.”

Grossman refers to a story published by Reuters last month, in which they mentioned Washington’s hope to create a military counterbalance to Chinese forces. It is built on an effort called “Fortress Taiwan” by the Pentagon.

“In other words, the U.S. should help to make Taiwan an impenetrable fortress to Chinese attack,” Grossman explained. “It is precisely the lower end but highly effective defensive systems that are likely to deter China from ever launching an amphibious landing invasion against Taiwan.”

Additionally, Grossman pointed out that since the passage of the Taiwan Travel Act, security becomes one of the main areas of growth between the U.S. and Taiwan.

“One of the main areas of growth is to have flag officers from both sides increasingly in contact with each other on issues and challenges of mutual concern,” said Grossman. “Doing so would improve coordination and potentially open new areas of cooperation on common problems.”

As the U.S. Presidential election is approaching, all sides are paying attention to how the election result is going to affect Washington’s policies in the Indo-Pacific region. Grossman predicts that if Trump is re-elected, the current Indo-Pacific strategy will remain the same. However, if Biden wins the election, it can be expected that he might dial back on harsh rhetorics against Beijing.

“However, there is a bipartisan consensus in Congress and whole of government approach to compete with and counter China at every turn, including in the Taiwan Strait,” Grossman said. “That will be very difficult if not impossible to undo.”

China “on high alert” after U.S. Destroyer sailed through the Taiwan Strait

On Thursday, China’s navy condemned the U.S. navy after a U.S. warship sailed through the Taiwan Strait on Wednesday. Beijing accused Washington of stirring up troubles.

In a statement, the U.S. Pacific Fleet confirmed that the guided-missile destroyer USS Barry passed through the Taiwan Strait on October 14, in what the U.S. navy described as “a routine passage.”

“The ship’s transit through the Taiwan Strait demonstrates the U.S. commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific,” the statement said. “The U.S. Navy will continue to fly, sail and operate anywhere international law allows.”

According to China’s state-run tabloid Global Times, the People’s Liberation Army Eastern Theater Command said they organized naval and air forces and tracked and monitored the U.S. Destroyer for the entire course when it sailed through the Taiwan Strait on Wednesday.

“We sternly urge the U.S. to stop making trouble-stirring statements and moves,” said Senior Colonel Zhang Chunhui, the spokesperson of the command. “he command forces are always on high alert in resolutely safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits.”

China views the passage of foreign vessels through the Taiwan Strait as a violation of its sovereignty. However, the U.S. and other countries see the waterway as part of international waters and therefore open to all.

This piece first appeared in Mandarin on DW’s Chinese website.