Premier Su Tseng-chang (???) on Wednesday said a united Taiwan would serve as strong deterrent to a potential Chinese invasion, as he received a group of visiting ex-U.S. defense officials sent by President Joe Biden to reaffirm Washington’s commitment to Taipei.
Su met with the delegation headed by Mike Mullen, former chairman of the United States Joint Chiefs of Staff, at the Executive Yuan. In his remarks made ahead of a closed-door meeting, he expressed gratitude for the group’s visit amid the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine which began on Feb. 24 has caused large scale destruction in some major Ukrainian cities and led to the displacement of more than half a million people, mostly women and children, according to United Nations figures.
The premier said that in Taiwan, the invasion of a democratic country by an authoritarian regime brings to mind the possibility of a Chinese invasion of Taiwan.
The arrival of Mullen’s delegation, which includes four other former defense and security officials, sent the people of Taiwan “a clear and strong message” about the rock-solid Taiwan-U.S. relationship and the efforts the U.S. has made to maintain cross-strait and regional peace, he added.
Su also said Ukraine serves as an example for Taiwan that only a unified country can withstand invasion.
“Like Ukraine, we must first show the world our resolution to defend ourselves before other democratic and freedom-loving countries will extend a helping hand,” he said.
Su added that he would discuss with the visiting former U.S. officials how to deter authoritarian leaders in China from invading Taiwan.
The U.S. delegation did not make a public address before its meeting with Su and was scheduled to depart Taiwan Wednesday night.
Earlier Wednesday, Mullen told President Tsai Ing-wen (???) that their visit is intended to voice support for “the continued and growing strength of the vital partnership” between the U.S. and Taiwan.
Democratic partners around the world are facing “sustained and alarming challenges,” Mullen said, mentioning in particular the unfolding crisis in Ukraine.
After meeting with Su, the group visited the Ministry of National Defense (MND) headquarters in Taipei’s Dazhi area.
The MND confirmed the delegation’s visit but declined to provide details of their conversations, citing confidentiality.
The American delegation also met with Eric Chu (???), chairman of the Kuomintang (KMT), Taiwan’s biggest opposition party, in the evening to discuss the Ukraine crisis, Taiwan’s security, and Chu’s planned visit to the U.S. later this year.
“We together hope to ensure the security of Taiwan,” Chu told reporters after the meeting, without providing any further details about the meeting.
Chu later took to social media to say the KMT would “defend the Republic of China, uphold democracy and freedom, and stand together with the U.S. and democratic allies in the international community to safeguard peace.”
Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel