- Raymond Greene began his term as director of the U.S. Institute for Taiwan Studies on Monday. He pledged on Wednesday to “vigorously support Taiwan’s ability to defend itself.”
- On the same day, Taiwan saw 66 Chinese military aircraft and seven warships sailing nearby within a 24-hour period, a clear display of Chinese military force.
- The United States does not recognise Taiwan as a country, but the American Institute in Taiwan functions as a de facto embassy, and Taipei also has an economic and cultural representative office in the United States.
The new U.S. special envoy for Taiwan pledged on Wednesday that Washington will help Taiwan defend itself amid growing military threats from China.
The weight of the message from Raymond Green, who took over as director of the US Institute for Taiwan Studies on Monday, was underscored by the strong show of force displayed by China’s People’s Liberation Army toward Taiwan on the same day.
“First, and most importantly, the United States strongly supports Taiwan’s ability to defend itself,” Greene said during a meeting with Taiwan President Lai Ching-te. “We have a shared long-term interest in peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.”
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Lai said Taiwan, a democratic island of 23 million people, is claimed by Beijing as its territory, but that the island is committed to maintaining the status quo and will use force to retake it if necessary.
Taiwan’s Defense Ministry also said on Wednesday that 36 Chinese military jets, including J-16 fighter jets and H-6 bombers, had been spotted flying south and southeast of Taiwan en route to the western Pacific for training with China’s Shandong aircraft carrier.
By Thursday morning, that number had risen to a total of 66 aircraft in 24 hours. Taiwan also said it was tracking seven warships around its territorial waters.
Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te (right) poses for a commemorative photo with American Institute of Taiwan (AIT) President Raymond F. Green (left) in Taipei, Taiwan on July 10, 2024. (Taiwan Presidential Office via Associated Press)
The United States, like many other countries, does not recognize Taiwan as a country. However, the United States is Taiwan’s major partner and is obligated by U.S. law to provide Taiwan with the means to defend itself. Less than a month ago, the U.S. State Department approved the sale of missiles and drones to Taiwan for an estimated $360 million.
In April, the House of Representatives approved an $8 billion military aid package for Taiwan.
“Taiwan and the United States are strong partners committed to maintaining peace and stability in the region,” Lai said Wednesday.
The Chinese government did not immediately comment on the meeting.
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The American Institute in Taiwan functions as a de facto embassy, and Taipei has an economic and cultural representative office in the United States and similar de facto embassies in other countries.
China has stepped up military pressure on Taiwan since Lai took office in May. Beijing views him as a separatist and refuses to engage in dialogue.
In late June, Beijing threatened to track down and execute “hardliners” in favor of Taiwan independence, after Taipei responded by urging its citizens to avoid travel to China and its semi-autonomous territories of Hong Kong and Macau.
