WASHINGTON (Dispatches) -Top United States representative in Taiwan on Friday said that U.S. was committed to help Taiwan defend itself. The statement has come amid heightened tension between Taipei and Beijing.
Sandra Oudkirk, head of American Institute in Taiwan which is also the de-facto US embassy in absence of formal ties, was speaking to reporters at her first news conference since assuming her post in July. She described U.S.-Taiwan relations as ‘rock-solid’
“The United States has a commitment to help Taiwan provide for its self-defence,” said Oudkirk
Her remarks come as tension between Taiwan and China, which has not ruled out taking the democratically ruled island by force, has escalated in recent weeks.
Chinese foreign ministry told Reuters that it opposed Oudkirk’s comment. It urged the U.S. to be aware of the sensitive nature of the Taiwan issue.
“Don’t play with fire, or it will severely impact China-U.S. relations and the peace and stability of the Taiwan Strait,” the statement said.
While the United States, like most countries, has no formal ties with the Chinese-claimed island, it is its most important international backer and main arms supplier. President Joe Biden’s administration has moved to restate that support, to the anger of Beijing.
Washington is required by law to provide Taiwan with the means to defend itself but it has long followed a policy of “strategic ambiguity” on whether it would intervene militarily to protect Taiwan in the event of a Chinese attack.
When asked if the United States would come to Taiwan’s defense if China attacked, Oudkirk said the policy towards Taiwan has been clear and remains unchanged, citing several U.S. laws governing its relations with Taiwan.
A recent increase in Chinese military exercises in Taiwan’s air defense identification zone are part of what Taipei views as stepped up military harassment by Beijing.
Taiwan Defense Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng said earlier this month that military tensions with China are at their worst in more than 40 years.

Taiwan Secessionists Will Be
Punished’ Despite U.S. Help

Taiwan’s leader Tsai Ing-wen and all “Taiwan secessionists” will be punished despite help from the US, Beijing’s The Global Times newspaper wrote on Friday, reflecting the opinion of China’s military and political circles.
“In a recent interview with CNN published on Thursday, Taiwan’s regional leader Tsai Ing-wen confirmed for the first time that U.S. troops are present on the island for ‘training purposes’. Experts said that this provocative announcement is for Taiwan secessionists to show off that they have got ‘protection’ from the U.S., but in fact, there is no chance for them to escape punishment,” the newspaper cautions.
“When the determination of 1.4 billion Chinese people and the strength of the Chinese mainland are taken into consideration, there is no chance for the ‘US military presence on the island’ to change the resolution of the Taiwan question — the doomsday for Taiwan secessionists and the reunification of China,” the newspaper said citing “mainland analysts”.
Taiwan has been governed by its local administration since 1949 when the Kuomintang’s remaining forces headed by Chiang Kai-shek (1887-1975) were defeated in the Chinese Civil War and took refuge on the island.