Head of the American Institute in Taiwan, Christopher Marut says that the US commitment is long-standing.
In a report issued by Bloomberg on Friday, Marut also said that the US would regard any attempt to determine Taiwan’s future by non-peaceful means with “grave concern”. Marut said these non-peaceful means includes any attempt to place a boycott or embargo on Taiwan.
Marut’s remarks come a day after the US and Taiwan marked 35 years of friendly ties under the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA). The TRA includes clauses requiring the US to help provide for Taiwan’s self-defense. Under the framework of the TRA, the US has sold Taiwan military hardware including ships and helicopters. The US has also upgraded Taiwan’s fleet of F-16 fighter jets.
The US-Taiwan partnership remains important, as China considers Taiwan part of its territory though Taiwan and China have been ruled separately for over 60 years. According to the Bloomberg report, the US Defense Intelligence Agency estimates that China has around 1,200 missiles aimed at Taiwan.