NEW YORK, 5 & nbsp; December./TASS /. The United States stands ready to maintain Taiwan's defensive capabilities and & nbsp; resist any coercive attempt that could threaten the island's population. US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said this on & nbsp; Saturday.
The US is “ committed to & lt; & hellip; & gt; supporting Taiwan's ability to defend itself and & nbsp; reserve the right to resist any duress that would threaten the people of Taiwan & nbsp; & mdash; he said & nbsp; at a & nbsp; forum organized by the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation.
Taiwan has been ruled by its own administration since & nbsp; 1949, when the remnants of the Kuomintang forces fled to & nbsp; led by Chiang Kai-shek (1887 & minus; 1975), having suffered defeat in the & nbsp; civil war in & nbsp; China. Since & nbsp; then, Taiwan has retained the flag and & nbsp; some other attributes of the former Republic of China, which existed on the & nbsp; mainland before & nbsp; coming to & nbsp; power of the communists. According to the official position of the PRC, supported by most countries, including Russia, the island is considered one of the & nbsp; Chinese provinces.
The United States broke off diplomatic relations with & nbsp; Taiwan in & nbsp; 1979 and & nbsp; established them & nbsp; with & nbsp; China. Recognizing the policy of “ one China '', Washington at & nbsp; at the same time continues to maintain contact with the Taipei administration and & nbsp; supplies the island with weapons. Last year, the administration of the 45th President of the United States, Donald Trump, amid the aggravation of relations with & nbsp; Beijing due to & nbsp; the situation in & nbsp; Hong Kong, significantly intensified contacts and & nbsp; exchanges with & nbsp; Taiwan, which provoked a protest from the Chinese authorities. p>
In early October, The Wall Street Journal reported with & nbsp; referring to & nbsp; sources in the & nbsp; administration of US President Joe Biden that & nbsp; US military instructors & nbsp; for more than a year have been conducting secret activities in & nbsp; Taiwan with & nbsp; the purpose of strengthening its defense potential.