TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A photo shared online by the Military News Agency (MNA) over the weekend suggests a US Indo-Pacific Command officer was in Taiwan as recently as Friday.

The Ministry of National Defense held a meeting that day, presided over by Defense Minister Wellington Koo (顧立雄), in preparation for the 41st Han Kuang military exercises this summer. A photo from the event showed a partially visible name placard beside Koo, displaying the Mandarin text for “Indo-Pacific Command” and English text reading “J5 Maj General,” per UDN.

After local media noticed the detail, MNA replaced the image with an edited version that removed the placard from the lower right corner. Some reports speculate the officer seated next to Koo was likely Major General Jay Bargeron of the US Marine Corps.

When asked about the issue, the MND said Taiwan regularly conducts exchanges with partners and allies to enhance combat effectiveness. The ministry did not dispute key details, which some interpret as tacit confirmation of Bargeron’s attendance, per PTS.

Su Tzu-yun (蘇紫雲), Director of the Institute of National Defense and Security Research, noted that Bargeron serves as the director of strategic planning and policy at the US Indo-Pacific Command. Given his role, Su said, his presence as an observer at the planning session ahead of the Han Kuang drills should not be considered unusual, per UDN.

Su also pointed to Washington’s recent decision to unfreeze foreign aid to Taiwan. The presence of a US military observer underscores the close level of cooperation between Taipei and Washington and the Trump administration’s continued focus on regional security.