They risk China’s anger. Americans secretly train Taiwanese – World – PRAVDA.sk

U.S. Special Operations Forces and Marines have been secretly training Taiwanese forces since last year, risking China’s anger, The Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday.

According to the AFP agency, the daily reports that approximately 20 members of US forces have been training Taiwanese ground and naval forces for “at least one year” in connection with China’s growing verbal threats against Taiwan, an ally of the USA.

The diary refers to unnamed officials. The Taiwanese Ministry of Defense declined to comment on the report. The Pentagon did not confirm or deny the report. His spokesman John Supple said that “our support and defense relations with Taiwan remain in line with the current threat posed by the People’s Republic of China.”

According to the AFP, the report apparently confirmed Taiwanese media articles from November last year, referring to the Taiwanese naval command, that American troops had come to the country to train naval forces and special forces in operations of small ships and amphibious ships.

These articles were subsequently rejected by US and Taiwanese officials, stressing that both sides are involved in military bilateral exchanges and cooperation.

The largest demonstration of power

The United States is supplying weapons to Taiwan – including defensive missiles and fighter jets – in response to Beijing’s threat to seize control of the island and reunite it with China, the AFP said.

China sent 52 fighter jets over Taiwan on Monday, the largest demonstration of force in the past three days, as Chinese military planes invaded Taiwan’s airspace.

Read more China can attack Taiwan in six years, warns US admiral

The Chinese government considers Taiwan to be its secessionary province and does not recognize its democratically elected government. Both states were formed after the Civil War in 1949, as a result of which the Communists came to power in mainland China and the nationalists, led by General Chiang Kai-shek, fled to Taiwan.

Beijing has in the past increased pressure on Taiwan to force it to recognize its sovereignty. However, Taiwanese officials claim that Taiwan is an independent state and will defend its freedom and democracy. Its most important supporters are the United States.