The defense ministry says that Taiwan has yet to receive an invitation to participate in the Rim of the Pacific Exercise (RIMPAC).
The US-led RIMPAC is the world’s biggest international maritime warfare exercise. It is held once every two years. This year, it is scheduled to take place from August 17-31.
Over 20 countries have taken part in the exercise since 2012. Over the past week, there has been a great deal of public discussion about the possibility that Taiwan, too, might be invited to take part for the first time. That’s because the US Senate passed a version of National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 last week. The text of this act suggests that the Trump administration conduct “practical training and military exercises with Taiwan, including, as appropriate, the Rim of the Pacific exercise.”
However, spokesperson for Taiwan’s defense ministry Shih Shun-wen said Tuesday that Taiwan has yet to receive a formal notice of invitation from the US. Shih also said that Taiwan’s military would prefer to start as an observer at the exercises, that it would like to make other joint military projects a priority— projects such as those aimed at providing humanitarian assistance.