(TotalConservative.com) – Amid rising tensions with China, an official confirmed to Fox News that the U.S. is preparing to deploy 100 to 200 troops to be trained in Taiwan, the largest deployment of American forces on the island in over a decade.
There is already a small training program present in Taiwan, including members of the National Guard, U.S. Marines, and Special Ops, which will now be expanded with the latest troops to be sent.
According to The Wall Street Journal, which first reported the news and cited U.S. officials involved in the preparation, only about 30 U.S. troops were stationed there last year, and the increase was planned for months before the China spy balloon incident. A small group of Taiwanese soldiers will also be trained on U.S. soil by the Michigan National Guard.
Defense Department spokesman Lt. Col. Marty Meiners told Fox that they have no comment “on specific operations, engagements, or training” but said that America’s “support for, and defense relationship with, Taiwan remains aligned against the current threat posed by… China,” who still claim the island is part of their territory and have threatened to reclaim it by force if necessary.
Earlier this week, a delegation of U.S. lawmakers paid a visit to Taiwan to meet with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen and various business people. The delegation included Reps. Tony Gonzales of Texas, Ro Khanna of California, Jonathan Jackson of Illinois, and Jake Auchincloss of Massachusetts.
Khanna assured that their efforts there “are in no way provocative of China, but consistent with [President Biden’s] foreign policy that recognizes the importance of the relationship with Taiwan, while… seeking… peace in the region.” The Chinese government are opposed to any exchange between Taiwan and foreign governments. Khanna said his reasons for visiting were to learn about Taiwan’s role in the industry of semiconductors.
Sending more American troops to train in Taiwan could lead to escalation of tensions between the U.S. and China, especially after Secretary of State Anthony Blinken recently warned China not to send weapons to aid Russia in the Ukraine war.
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