US Marines to start military training exercises with Taiwanese armed forces


According to news published by Taiwanese newspaper websites, on November 9, 2020, U.S. Marines will be deployed for four weeks in Taiwan to start training exercises with Taiwanese troops. For the first time since the US and Taiwan ceased bilateral ties in 1979, US troops will be deployed in Taiwan.
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American-made AH-64 Apache attack helicopters are in service with Taiwanese armed forces. (Picture source Taiwan MoD)


Following the passage of the Taiwan Travel Act by the U.S. Congress on March 16, 2018, relations between the United States and Taiwan have since maneuvered to an official and high-level basis. Both sides have since signed a consular agreement formalizing their existent consular relations on September 13, 2019. On 26 March 2020, President Trump signed the TAIPEI Act, aiming to increase the scope of US relations with Taiwan and encouraging other nations and international organizations to strengthen their official and unofficial ties with the island nation.

Citing the Taiwan news website, the Marine Raiders, the Marines' special operations soldiers, will begin training Taiwanese Marines in assault boat and speedboat infiltration operations at the Tsoying Naval Base in Kaohsiung.

The United States continue to strengthen their relationship with Taiwan, after the announcement of the sale of military equipment to the Taiwanese armed forces. In October 2020, the United States Department has anounced sevral possible foreing military sales to Taiwan including drones, missiles, rocket launcher systems, and more.

The Taiwanese Ministry of Defense pointed out that the United States is continuing to supply and sell defensive weapons based on the "Taiwan Relations Act" and the "Six Assurances", following on from two previous arms sales to Taiwan of four required weapons and pieces of equipment. With such arms sales, they should enhance our joint surveillance and reconnaissance, strengthen our overall defensive capabilities, and ensure peace and stability around the region of the Taiwan Strait.

According to information published by the "Taiwan News" website on September 2020, United States should consider to deploy soldiers in Taiwan to serve as a deterrent against an assault by People's Liberation Army (PLA) forces.