US Indo-Pacific Command Commander Samuel Paparo said on May 29 that China's recent military exercises around Taiwan "looked like an attack rehearsal," according to Nikkei Asia .
Chinese warships appear near Taiwan on May 23, in this photo released by Taiwan's Defense Ministry on May 24.
Mr. Paparo said that the Indo-Pacific Command monitored and analyzed China's exercises around Taiwan on May 23 and 24. "We watched that exercise. We took notes. We learned from that exercise. And they helped us prepare for the future," Mr. Paparo added.
Meanwhile, Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Wu Qian said today, May 30, that Taiwan's recent military exercises "achieved their expected goals." Wu also said that the Chinese military would take stronger countermeasures whenever Taiwan's "separatist forces" took provocative actions, according to Reuters.
Asked about the possibility of China attacking Taiwan, Mr. Paparo stressed: "What is important is China's own assessment," warning that Beijing continues to "build up its capabilities at an alarming rate."
“The US government has asked me to be ready today, tomorrow, next month and next year, in accordance with the Taiwan Relations Act,” Mr. Paparo said. That law requires Washington to help Taiwan strengthen its self-defense capabilities.
If gunfire broke out in the region, Mr. Paparo said he was confident the United States and its allies and partners would “prevail in a conflict.”
The US has been pushing for “comprehensive deterrence” with these allies and partners. Calling the US-Japan alliance “the most important alliance on the planet,” Mr. Paparo praised the two countries’ ability to operate together.
Mr Paparo also stressed the “urgency of achieving full unity of effort” with the Japan Self-Defense Forces, adding that his mission “in the coming years” would be to upgrade the command and control relationship.
Japan will establish a joint operations command within its Self-Defense Forces by the end of March 2025. The command will act as a coordinating body working with the US military, with the aim of speeding up decision-making between the two allies and facilitating joint operations.
Regarding the situation in the South China Sea, Mr. Paparo said: "We are monitoring the situation and are ready to support our treaty ally, the Philippines." He added that the Netherlands, Italy and Germany will strengthen their deterrence capabilities in the South China Sea through efforts such as deploying ships, according to Nikkei Asia .
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/tu-lenh-my-nhan-xet-the-nao-ve-cuoc-tap-tran-cua-trung-quoc-quanh-dai-loan-18524053016433983.htm
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