Deputy Defense Minister Andrew Hsia said on Wednesday that Taiwan can contribute a lot to efforts in the US strategic rebalance toward Asia.
Hsia made the remarks at a forum on US-Taiwan security relations hosted by the Center for a New American Security to mark the 35th anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act. The act was implemented in 1979 to maintain relations between the US and Taiwan, after Washington switched its diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing. The US government is bound by the act to provide Taiwan with defensive weapons.
The US has been hesitant about including Taiwan in the policy that encourages its allies to assume a greater responsibility for regional security due to pressure from China. Hsia said he believes Taiwan’s involvement will interest the US at a time of fiscal austerity.
The US has called for Taiwan to increase its military spending to 3% of gross domestic product. Hsia said Taipei has assured Washington that Taiwan is determined to defend itself. He also said Taiwan will propose a special budget or use other means to support new arms sales from the US.