TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwanese are ready to face China if cross-strait conflict breaks out, Taiwan Representative to the US Alexander Ta-Ray Yui (俞大㵢) said in an interview with Fox News on Friday (Oct. 4).
When asked if Taiwanese would stand their ground in the case of a Chinese invasion, Yui said, "Yes, of course."
Yui said China has escalated tensions in the region since 2020. "Xi Jinping (習近平) has been emboldened because he wants to realize what he calls his China dream," he said, adding, "It's not about which administration is in the United States . . . but rather, what are the thoughts of Xi Jinping?"
The representative hoped not to require assistance from US troops but said Taiwan would welcome them if offered. "If your house is under fire, and they respond to help you with a bucket of water, would you say no?" Yui said.
He described Taiwan as “a peace-loving nation” that stands for democracy and freedom. “We want to be incorporated in the world because we've been isolated for many decades due to the conflict that we have . . . with mainland China," he said.
Yui’s comments come as the US is set to establish an Indo-Pacific resilience partnership with allies and partners from the region and Europe, with Taiwan playing a key role. The Pentagon will host the first meeting in Hawaii in approximately two weeks, with at least 12 Indo-Pacific and European allies participating, according to Jedidiah Royal, the US principal deputy assistant secretary of defense for Indo-Pacific security affairs.
Taiwan’s Ministry of Defense said it clearly articulated its defense policy to the US and highlighted its high-tech defense production capabilities and intention to strengthen bilateral cooperation during last month's three-day Taiwan-US Defense Industry Conference. The US also reiterated its commitment to maintaining strong ties and using laws to help Taiwan acquire the necessary weapons and equipment for its defense needs.
To help ramp up arms deliveries to Taiwan, the US is evaluating the feasibility of allowing Taiwan’s National Chung Shan Institute of Science and Technology to assemble and produce Stinger missiles. A team will be sent to Taiwan next year to asses technical capacity, production capabilities, and cybersecurity measures for assembling the 1,985 Stinger missiles it previously ordered. If the institute meets US certification standards, production could begin in Taiwan as early as 2026, with deliveries made in batches each year.
On Sept. 29, President Joe Biden ordered the drawdown of up to US$567 million (NT$17.94 billion) in weapons, training, and logistic support for Taiwan, marking the largest-ever military aid package the East Asian nation has received from the US.