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A US special operations contingent and maritime forces are operating covertly from Taiwan as aggressive Chinese actions continue to escalate, a report said Thursday.
U.S. forces are working to train the Taiwanese military in an effort to bolster the Indo-Pacific nation’s defenses, the Wall Street Journal first reported.
TAIWAN SAYS TENSION WITH CHINA IS WORST IN 40 YEARS
Officials told the publication that over the past year, about two dozen members of U.S. special operations units and support troops conducted ground training while the Marines worked to train small boat units.
The news comes just days after a record number of Chinese military planes entered Taiwan’s air defense zone.
The Chinese Air Force sent around 150 fighter jets and bombers to the defense zone over a four-day period.
Although the plane did not officially enter Taiwan’s airspace, the show of force concerned the international community and prompted the United States, United Kingdom and Japan to conduct multinational military exercises in the region.
Taiwanese Prime Minister Su Tseng-chang warned this week that “Taiwan absolutely must be on high alert.”
CHINA MAKES BIGGEST AIR INCURSION TO TAIWAN EVER
“China is getting more and more exaggerated,” he said. “We must unite and strengthen ourselves, only then will the countries that want to annex Taiwan not dare to easily resort to force.”
Taiwan identifies itself as a sovereign nation, but it is officially recognized by China, the United Nations, and the United States under the One-China Policy.
China’s Foreign Ministry said US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan underlined “US adherence to the one-China policy” during talks on Wednesday.
But a statement issued by the White House said that Sullivan “raised a number of areas in which we are concerned about PRC policy. [People’s Republic of China] actions ”, including in the South China Sea.
“Mr. Sullivan has made it clear that… we will continue to invest in our own national strength and work closely with our allies and partners,” the statement added.
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China has repeatedly condemned Taiwan’s independence and said it will take over the island by force – a threat according to US security officials could arise in the next six years.
“Taiwan is clearly one of their ambitions,” Admiral Philip Davidson, commander of the US Indo-Pacific Command, told a Senate armed forces committee in March. “I think the threat [will] manifested over this decade, in fact, over the next six years. “
Fox News was unable to immediately contact the White House for comment.
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