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The
United States is Taiwan's most important arms supplier. Beijing
has repeatedly demanded the sale of U.S. weapons to Taiwan stop,
viewing them as unwarranted support for the democratically
governed island that Beijing claims.
"The speed at which we, the United States, or other countries
assist Taiwan in improving (their) defensive capabilities, I
think that probably needs to be accelerated in the years to
come," U.S. Army General Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint
Chiefs of Staff, told reporters during a visit to Tokyo.
Milley said Taiwan needed weapons like air defence systems and
those that could target ships from land.
"I think it's important that Taiwan's military and their
defensive capabilities be improved," he said.
Taiwan has since last year complained of delays to U.S. weapon
deliveries, such as Stinger anti-aircraft missiles, as
manufacturers turned supplies to Ukraine as it battles invading
Russian forces. The issue has concerned some U.S. lawmakers.
Taiwan has said that its defence spending this year will focus
on preparing weapons and equipment for a "total blockade" by
China, including parts for F-16 fighters and replenishing
weapons.
China staged war games around the island in August, firing
missiles over Taipei and declaring no-fly and no-sail zones in a
simulation of how it would seek to cut Taiwan off in a war.
In recent days, China's military has been practicing joint force
operations at sea ahead of Taiwan's annual war games at the end
of the month when it will simulate breaking a Chinese blockade.
Milley said that relations between the United States and China
were at a "very low point" and recent diplomatic meetings,
including between U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and top
Chinese diplomat Wang Yi, were important to reduce the chances
of escalation.
Milley said the United States was looking at whether it needed
to change where some U.S. forces were based within the Asia
Pacific.
The majority of U.S. forces in the region are in northeast Asia,
including 28,500 in South Korea and 56,000 troops in Japan.
"We are seriously looking at potential alternative basing
options," Milley said.
(Reporting by Idrees Ali; editing by Robert Birsel)
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