Military Space News
TAIWAN NEWS
Taiwan says US will 'not abandon' Asia-Pacific region
Taiwan says US will 'not abandon' Asia-Pacific region
By Joy CHIANG
Taipei (AFP) Mar 4, 2025

The United States will "not abandon" the Asia-Pacific region, Taiwan's defence minister said, days after US President Donald Trump's fiery clash with Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky fuelled concern in Taiwan over US support for the island.

Taiwan faces the constant threat of an invasion by China, which claims the island as part of its territory, and Taipei is heavily reliant on Washington for its security backing.

Trump's repeated criticism of Taiwan over its dominance of the global semiconductor chip industry and its spending on defence has raised doubts about his willingness to protect the island.

Speaking to reporters on Monday -- days after Trump warned Zelensky to make a deal with the United States "or we're out" -- Taiwan's Defence Minister Wellington Koo said he was "convinced that the US will not abandon the Indo-Pacific".

"It doesn't want a war in the region, since that would lead to the loss of the Indo-Pacific region and bear immense costs," Koo said, using another term for the Asia-Pacific region, in remarks embargoed until Tuesday.

"The US cannot withdraw from the Indo-Pacific because this is its core interest... This is undoubtedly a fundamental national interest for the US, whether from the perspective of economic growth, geopolitical relevance, or military security."

Koo said Taiwan was in the centre of the Asia-Pacific's so-called first island chain -- linking Okinawa, Taiwan and the Philippines -- and its security was critical to its neighbours, who have competing territorial claims with China.

"If Taiwan were breached and taken over by the CCP, what situation would Japan face? What situation would the Philippines face?" Koo asked, using the acronym for the Chinese Communist Party.

Koo warned China's "authoritarian expansionism" would not stop.

Meanwhile, Taiwan's foreign ministry said Tuesday it "continues to assess the positions of Russia, the United States, the European Union, and Ukraine", after a White House official said Trump had suspended military aid to Kyiv.

The United States does not have formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan, but Washington has long been Taipei's most important partner and biggest supplier of arms.

Taiwan has repeatedly vowed to increase defence spending as it seeks to stay onside with the Trump administration, and Koo said there were ongoing discussions with Washington about the weapons procurement process.

"We are communicating with them and, of course, we hope they will also expedite the review process for arms sales that are essential for building our self-defense capabilities," Koo said.

"This is something we are continuously working on in our discussions with them."

Koo would not comment on specific purchases, but said that "asymmetric capabilities and defence resilience are our priorities for foreign military procurement."

Taiwan's roughly week-long "Han Kuang" annual military drills will be expanded this year, Koo said, with five new joint operational exercises added and live-fire drills held over 10 days.

Related Links
Taiwan News at SinoDaily.com

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
TAIWAN NEWS
Taiwan says detects 45 Chinese aircraft in 24-hours, highest this year
Taipei (AFP) Feb 27, 2025
Taiwan said Thursday it detected 45 Chinese aircraft near the self-ruled island, the highest number this year and a tally that comes a day after Taipei condemned China's "live-fire" drills off the south. China claims democratic Taiwan as part of its territory and has threatened to use force to bring the island under its control. Beijing has increased the deployment of fighter jets and naval vessels around Taiwan in recent years to press its claim of sovereignty, which Taipei rejects. In the ... read more

TAIWAN NEWS
Maxar Space Systems Ships First Tranche 1 Tracking Layer Spacecraft to L3Harris

Proliferating Space-Based Missile Tracking to Counter Emerging Threats

Canada willing to join US 'Iron Dome' missile shield: minister

Russia slams Trump plan for 'Star Wars' missile shield

TAIWAN NEWS
Denmark hopes to have air defence system in place from 2026

N. Korea says launched cruise missiles in 'counterattack' drills

Air alert across Ukraine, missiles incoming: authorities

Pregnant teenager among five Ukrainians killed by Russian missile

TAIWAN NEWS
Lockheed Martin Introduces Versatile Counter-UAS Defense System

Elbit Systems Introduces Dominion-X Autonomous Management OS for Unmanned Platforms

MARSS deploys NiDAR-powered defense shield for GCC naval bases

CIA using drones to surveil drug cartels, labs in Mexico

TAIWAN NEWS
ESA advances HydRON project for next-generation space communications

Airbus awarded Oberon satellites contract by UK MOD

Satellogic and Telespazio Brasil to provide low-latency satellite imagery for the Brazilian Air Force

Mobix Labs Secures Defense Funding to Advance SATCOM SoC Innovation

TAIWAN NEWS
US approves sale of $3 bn in munitions, bulldozers to Israel

Denmark and Norway to 'increase cooperation' on defence

Eight soldiers killed in Colombia road accident

Shipment of 'heavy' US bombs arrives in Israel: defence ministry

TAIWAN NEWS
Germany's proposed defence and infrastructure bonanza: how and why?

US Department of Veterans Affairs to cut more than 70,000 jobs

Germany set for massive rearmament as divide with US widens

Few European allies meet 3% defence spending mark

TAIWAN NEWS
Trump orders 'pause' on military aid to Ukraine, White House officials say

Kremlin says Zelensky needs to be forced to make peace

Ports sale offers Panama way out of Trump row: experts

Vance denies criticizing British, French armies

TAIWAN NEWS
Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.