TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — US Pacific Fleet Commander Stephen Koehler said Tuesday that Taiwan is included in the fleet's "mission of deterrence."
While delivering the keynote for the Center for Strategic and International Studies' Fifteenth Annual South China Sea Conference, Koehler said China is building a globalized navy and appears intent on conducting maritime operations beyond its region, per UDN. He added that Beijing has been stepping up its rehearsals for invading or blockading Taiwan.
He said the mission of the US Pacific Fleet is to work closely with US allies and partners in the Western Pacific to deter aggression and, if necessary, prevail in combat. "That mission of deterrence applies regionwide, including the South China Sea and Taiwan,” said Koehler.
Koehler noted that China is seeking regional hegemony, deploying more forces in the South China Sea and pursuing increasingly aggressive tactics. He said the PLA Navy continues to rehearse its ability to exert influence on Taiwan, and he believes China is using these naval forces to pressure the country into becoming Chinese.
He also mentioned that two aircraft carrier strike groups are currently operating in the Pacific. The USS Nimitz strike group has been conducting missions in and around the South China Sea in recent months, while the USS George Washington is patrolling the western Pacific.
In addition, the amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli is en route to its new home port at the Sasebo Naval Base in Japan. The USS America is preparing to take part in the bilateral military exercise Talisman Sabre off Australia.
Koehler acknowledged the rapid expansion of China’s navy, saying Beijing likely aims to project power beyond the first and second island chains. He warned that China is building a navy capable of operating on a global scale and appears intent on carrying out missions far from home waters, such as in the Middle East.
Kotani Tetsuo, senior research fellow at the Japan Institute of International Affairs, said Japan is promoting the concept of “one theater.” Under this concept, the four major flashpoints in East Asia are treated as one major challenge to enable allied countries to respond collectively.
He stressed that without Taiwan’s participation, Indo-Pacific nations cannot ensure peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, nor in the East and South China Seas. However, under the “one China" policy, countries face difficulties in engaging with Taiwan militarily.
Kotani urged that Taiwan be invited as an observer to Exercise Balikatan or RIMPAC and other joint military exercises, so regional militaries can engage with Taiwan’s military.
