Any conversations about Taiwan being protected by the “nuclear umbrella” of the United States would not be made in public, says Taiwan foreign minister Joseph Wu (吳釗燮). Wu made the comments in response to questions from legislators in the Foreign and National Defense Committee on Monday.
Wu says that Taiwan maintains a policy that it will not develop, stockpile, or use nuclear weapons. He adds that Taiwan cannot accept being threatened by countries with nuclear weapons, and while he has expressed this concern to the U.S., it is not suitable to discuss these conversations in public.
Wu also replied to questions regarding the recent U.S. statement that it would begin to provide F-16 training to the Ukrainian military. Wu says that sales of F-16s to Ukraine will not affect the delivery of Taiwan’s 66 planes already on order.
Wu adds that the two sides recently concluded negotiations over the Taiwan-U.S. 21st Century Trade Initiative. Wu says the eventual signing of the deal will not only improve relations with the U.S., but also help to improve relations with other countries as well.