(ConservativeInsider.org) – Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Mark Milley told reporters that the United States and other allies need to expand and expedite supplying Taiwan with military armament. Taiwan, a tiny island that is democratically governed but still claimed by China as a territory, is turning into a hotbed for international conflict. Taiwan has been governed independently from China since 1949.
The United States has diverted some arms intended for Taiwan to Ukraine due to recent conflict while Taiwan has seen the show of power that China showed off in war games staged around the island.
Recent diplomatic meetings between the U.S. and China are noted to be at a low point, and the U.S. is reviewing troops availability in Asia and possible other basing options outside of South Korea and Japan.
Business Insider noted that Taiwan is 23rd in terms of overall military power but first overall in terms of available reserve manpower. In April 2023 there were over 1.5 million reserve personnel available in this densely populated island. Taiwan is approximately the size of the state of Maryland but has three times the population.
Even after a March 2023 $619 billion dollar sale of weapons to Taiwan, Taiwan continues to expand their fleet and arms. The US continues to monitor the tight and awkward relationship between DC and Beijing but does not waver in supporting democracy.
Taiwan manufactures 90% of advanced semi-conductors and chips. Because the world now relies so heavily on this technology, many nations see defending Taiwan as a global task. President Biden and Japan are working with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation (TSMC) to expand manufacturing to Arizona and Japan, preparing to avoid supply chain issues that have occurred since the pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Taiwan has made itself into a flourishing, independent and valuable region that has made friends, hopefully that will be sufficient to avoid conflict.
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