Taiwan says close ties with US Pacific Command boost defence readiness

Taiwan's defense minister, Wellington Koo, has highlighted the close ties between Taiwan and the United States Pacific Command, emphasizing how this partnership bolsters defense readiness. Taiwan views itself as a crucial component of the first island chain, a strategic line stretching from Japan through Taiwan to the Philippines, which the US Pacific Command maintains as vital for peace and security in the Indo-Pacific region.

Koo expressed gratitude for the US support, revealing that cooperation with the Pacific Command has significantly enhanced Taiwan's defensive capabilities. Despite lacking formal diplomatic ties, the United States remains Taiwan's paramount international backer and arms supplier. China, which claims Taiwan as its own territory, has criticized these military exchanges and escalated military pressure against Taiwan, including operations near its Pacific coast.

Taiwan has responded with war games simulating Chinese aggression, including potential blockades, which Koo believes would be perilous for China. He argued that such a blockade would pose significant risks to Beijing's economy and global supply chains, as well as to the stability of President Xi Jinping. Koo suggested that the Chinese regime and its leader would face substantial political and international challenges if they implemented such a blockade, implying that Xi Jinping might reconsider such a move.