The Biden administration has sent defense officials to Taiwan in support of the nation over concerns that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine could spark China’s invasion of the self-governing island.
QUICK FACTS:
- US Military officials were sent to Taiwan amid concerns China could use the turmoil over Russia’s military movements to take its island nation, according to The Daily Mail.
- The team from the United States will arrive on Tuesday, according to Reuters, and will be led by retired Navy admiral Mike Mullen, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
- Mullen will be joined by Meghan O’Sullivan, a former deputy national security adviser, and Michele Flournoy, a former undersecretary of defense under Obama, are also part of the delegation.
- Additionally, two former National Security Council senior directors for Asia, Mike Green and Evan Medeiros will round out the delegation meant to show support for Taiwan.
OFFICIALS’ STATEMENTS ON THE DEFENSE OF TAIWAN:
- “The selection of these five individuals sends an important signal about the bipartisan U.S. commitment to Taiwan and its democracy, and demonstrates that the Biden administration’s broader commitment to Taiwan remains rock solid,” said the senior administration official.
- “The principle of self-determination cannot be erased by brute force,” said Taiwan’s Vice President Lai Ching-te.
- “The overall sense is that the Russian invasion of Ukraine has precipitated seismic shift in geopolitics. It doesn’t undermine Indo-Pacific efforts – it reinforces them,” said a senior Western diplomat. “We’ll see the US doubling down on relationships in and beyond the region.”
BACKGROUND:
- The attack of Russia, a superpower with a grudge against their neighbor, Ukraine, has added a layer of tension between the massive nation of China and its tiny neighbor Taiwan.
- Just days ago, China said that Taiwan is “not Ukraine” and has “always been an inalienable part of China,” adding that it is an “indisputable legal and historical fact,” according to Yahoo News.
- Relations between Beijing and Moscow are reported to be at a historic high, and China’s support of Russia in the form of lifting sanctions could prove a crucial lifeline for the nation and indicate where their allegiance lies.
