First Meeting Between US and Taiwan Coast Guard... Strengthening Bilateral Cooperation Amid Chinese Threats

Efforts to Deter China's Threats Including Military Drills in the Namjunghae

A photo showing the Chinese H-6 bomber released by the Taiwan Ministry of National Defense on June 16. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suhwan] The United States and Taiwan have officially held a meeting between their maritime police for the first time.

There is an analysis that the United States is further strengthening its strategic cooperation with Taiwan in various fields despite China's opposition.

According to local media such as United Daily News on the 12th, Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that it held the first meeting of the "Taiwan-US Maritime Patrol Task Force" via internet video connection the day before.

This is the first official business meeting between the maritime police organizations of the United States and Taiwan.

Prior to this, the United States and Taiwan signed a memorandum of understanding in March outlining a systematic cooperation plan between their maritime police.

At the first meeting attended by the US Coast Guard and Taiwan's Coast Guard Administration, both sides exchanged opinions on agendas such as maritime law enforcement, crackdowns on illegal fishing, and joint maritime search and rescue training, according to Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), which serves as the US embassy in Taiwan, stated, "Both sides discussed ways to strengthen joint maritime response capabilities including search and rescue, disaster, and environmental issues, and agreed to enhance future communication and explore opportunities for joint training."

In diplomatic circles, there is an analysis that the US aims to check China's expansion of influence in seas around China, including the South China Sea, through maritime police cooperation with Taiwan.

China is known to employ a "gray zone" tactic in disputed waters such as the South China Sea, sending a large number of its fishing vessels in addition to military ships in a swarming tactic to solidify its influence.

China regards the maritime police cooperation between the US and Taiwan as de facto military cooperation and is highly alert, focusing on the possibility of joint maritime exercises between the US and Taiwan maritime police.

The Liberty Times reported, "Although the Taiwan government officially denies it, the mainland (China) is closely monitoring the situation."

Wu Suchun, director of the China South Sea (South China Sea) Research Institute, said, "On the surface, it is about maritime law enforcement, but in reality, it is a kind of military security cooperation, akin to playing 'edge ball' (approaching the Maginot Line closely). It could even lead to joint military exercises between the US and Taiwan navies in the future."

Since the Donald Trump administration, when the new US-China cold war began in earnest, the US has been deepening strategic relations with Taiwan in diplomacy, military, health, economy, trade, and technology, strongly checking China.

The newly inaugurated Joe Biden administration this year is also strengthening relations with Taiwan while inheriting the previous administration's policy of strategic competition with China, although the approach differs somewhat.

However, the US maintains a stance that it will not cross the "red line" that China can never accept.

Last month, Kurt Campbell, US National Security Council (NSC) Indo-Pacific Coordinator, mentioned that the US does not support Taiwan's independence.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.