August 4, 2026 | 11:37 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Taiwanese defense official Wellington Koo disclosed that Taiwan's leadership is actively conducting joint exercises with the United States military, describing details of the cooperation as long-kept public secrets.
Military cooperation between Taiwan and the US runs far deeper than generally assumed, Koo told reporters on Friday, July 31, as reported by The Wall Street Journal on Monday, August 3.
"The public sees only the arms sales, but in fact, it’s multifaceted and involves so much more. Through military exchanges, we have been learning so much practical combat experience from the US," Koo explained.
The minister's statement reportedly reflects a broader shift in Taipei's stance regarding the disclosure of previously classified joint US military drills.
Meanwhile, the US Department of Defense and the US Indo-Pacific Command declined to comment on the matter.
Beijing has repeatedly called on Washington to cease arms sales to Taiwan and stop fueling regional volatility across the Taiwan Strait.
China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that US military interactions with Taiwan, alongside official arms sales to island authorities, constitute severe violations of the "One China" principle and the three joint Sino-US communiqués.
Chinese officials further emphasized that such actions breach China's sovereignty and national security interests while undermining peace and stability throughout the Taiwan Strait.
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