US defense and security delegation arrives in Taiwan amid rise in global security risks
A delegation of former senior defense and security officials sent by US President Joe Biden arrived in Taipei this afternoon, Tuesday, March 1.
The delegation led by former US Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Mike Mullen touched down at Taipei Songshan Airport at 3:54 pm, and was met on the Tarmac by Foreign Minister Joseph Wu.
Members of the delegation include Meghan O’Sullivan, a former deputy national security advisor under the Bush administration, Michele Flournoy, a former undersecretary of defense under Obama, and former National Security Council senior directors for Asia, Mike Green and Evan Medeiros.
A Reuters report announcing the visit yesterday quoted an unnamed US administration official as saying “The selection of these five individuals sends an important signal about the bipartisan U.S. commitment to Taiwan and its democracy, and demonstrates that the Biden administration’s broader commitment to Taiwan remains rock solid.”
The group are scheduled to meet with Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen, Defense Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng and other senior officials tomorrow, Wednesday, March 2.
United Daily News quoted American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) spokesperson Ed Dunn as saying that the discussions will involve US-Taiwan relations, regional security and other important issued related to the common interests of both parties.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Ou Jiang Anjin said this afternoon that the visit during the Ukraine situation showed that the U.S. commitment to Taiwan is rock-solid, while demonstrating that the Taiwan issue enjoys a high degree of bipartisan consensus in the United States.
The Russian invasion of Ukraine has sparked fears that China could make a similar move on Taiwan, and that the US would not come to Taiwan’s assistance.
Main picture: Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
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