The United States over the weekend continued to prove its support for the Republic of China (Taiwan) by sending two U.S. Navy destroyers to traverse the Taiwan Strait separating the mainland from Taiwan, and -- more alarmingly -- making it known it will deploy United States Marines to defend its de facto embassy in Taipei.
It was revealed last week that the U.S. State Department issued a request to the U.S. Navy for U.S. Marines to be stationed in Taipei to protect its diplomatic personnel stationed at the new building complex of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), the de facto embassy. AIT Director Kin Moy said the sprawling new complex will open later this summer.
The deployment of U.S. Marines, or any U.S. military force, to Taiwan will be the first since 1979 when the U.S. severed diplomatic ties with the island. Analysts said Washington's action signals the U.S. remains committed to standing against China's overly aggressive foreign policy and expansionist military moves.
More importantly, the presence of the Marines will mean that any attack on them and AIT by a mainland Chinese invasion (which Taiwan expects by 2020) will trigger the immediate military involvement of the U.S. Armed Forces on the side of Taiwan.
Officially, AIT is a non-profit organization that serves the interests of the U.S. in Taiwan. Its staff consists mostly of State Department employees. AIT processes visas and provides consular services to American expatriates.
AIT has served as the United States' quasi-embassy since 1979 after Washington cut diplomatic ties with Taiwan. The U.S. however, remains Taiwan's strongest ally and only foreign arms supplier.
After this news broke, the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Mustin (DDG-89) and USS Benfold (DDG-65) on July 7 entered the narrow Taiwan Strait from the Pacific Ocean and headed northeast in a show of force at a time of increasing trade tensions between China and the U.S.
The destroyers, which belong to Destroyer Squadron 15 (DESRON 15) based at United States Fleet Activities Yokosuka in Japan, were careful to remain inside international waters. DESRON 15 and its nine destroyers will be the first to enter combat against the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) in the event of China's invasion of Taiwan or a clash in the South China Sea.
"The military is monitoring the situation in neighboring areas, and has the confidence and abilities to maintain regional stability and defend national security," said a statement from the Republic of China Navy.
Relations between the U.S. and Taiwan are much closer under president Donald Trump, who last month signed legislation paving the way for mutual visits by top officials from both countries. Washington also approved a license required to sell submarine technology to Taiwan.
