TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) on Friday said the chances of Taiwan deploying naval forces to escort ships in the Strait of Hormuz are “extremely low,” while Defense Minister Wellington Koo (顧立雄) said no such plans have been considered.

KMT Legislator Hsu Chiao-hsin (徐巧芯) said six countries had issued a joint statement indicating readiness to "contribute to appropriate efforts" to safeguard navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, per CNA. She noted that US President Donald Trump had mentioned that seven countries were in talks with the US on the mission and asked whether the seventh country could be Taiwan.

Cho said the possibility is extremely low and the Cabinet cannot direct the armed forces to undertake such actions. Asked whether Taiwan’s military could protect vessels in the Strait of Hormuz if requested by the US, Cho said the government’s primary duty is to ensure the safety of its citizens and shipping, and anything else is not within the Cabinet’s authority.

Koo said that at least five Chinese military ships conduct drills around the Taiwan Strait every day. To address China’s “high-intensity gray zone harassment” and potential military threats, the armed forces remain on constant alert, monitoring developments in the Taiwan Strait and the Indo-Pacific region.

Koo said that no such overseas escort mission has been considered to date. He added that any US request would be hypothetical, as no such information has been received, and that the military’s mission remains focused on defending Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen, and Matsu.

Following joint attacks on Iran by the US and Israel, Iran’s new supreme leader, on March 12, declared that the Strait of Hormuz would be closed to enemy nations, per BBC. US President Donald Trump on March 16 urged many countries, especially those affected by Iran’s attempt to block the key waterway, to join the US in deploying naval vessels to ensure the strait remains open and secure, per CNBC.