(TargetLiberty.org) – President Joe Biden is facing a host of international crises. With only two months in office, tensions have increased with Iran and China, and Japan’s prime minister reported that North Korea began test-firing ballistic missiles last weekend. Amid these mounting problems, Taiwan and China relations appear to be breaking down.
Reuters reported on March 25 that Taiwan claimed it initiated mass-production of a long-range missile capable of striking China, threatening stability within the region.
China has increased military activity in Taiwan as part of an ongoing effort to force Taipei to accept Beijing’s claim of ownership over the democratic island. For example, Taiwan reported on March 26 that 20 military aircraft belonging to China entered Taiwan’s air space, marking Communist China’s largest incursion into the island’s air defense identification zone.
Taiwan’s military is dwarfed in size by that of China. As a result of the imbalance, Taiwan officials like Defense Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng have made the production of long-range missiles a priority. He says he hopes the missiles will be “accurate and mobile.”
The United States Coordinates Maritime Efforts With Taiwan
The Biden administration is concerned about mounting tension in the region with Taiwan in particular, and has signed an agreement with the island to coordinate Taiwan’s maritime defense efforts with a new Coast Guard Working Group.
The two nations signed the agreement on Thursday, March 25, as part of President Biden’s ongoing effort to assure Taiwan of his commitment to the nation’s sovereignty.
Hsiao Bi-khim, Taiwan’s de facto ambassador to the United States, said Taipei hoped the newly-established working group would “forge a stronger partnership” in the region and “contribute even more to a free and open Indo-Pacific region.”
The United States doesn’t have formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan. However, as Reuters recently reported, Washington is the island nation’s “most important international backer and arms supplier.”
Taiwan’s future remains unknown for now. Hopefully, Biden’s decision to strengthen ties with the island doesn’t increase tension with China leading to an additional crisis.
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