The U.S. and Taiwan fleets conducted joint drills in the Pacific in April in response to growing Chinese military threats. Four persons briefed on the situation revealed that these drills officially did not take place.
Washington and Taipei have been increasing their military cooperation in recent years, responding to nearly daily Chinese incursions into Taiwan’s air defense identification zone and Chinese forces’ training near the island.
China objects to any military contacts between Washington and Taipei. As a result, U.S.-Taiwan military activity, including visits and training, is kept low-key and frequently not formally confirmed. Taiwan vehemently disputes China’s claims to its territory, which it governs democratically.
The sources, who asked to remain anonymous due to the delicate nature of the subject, reported that the exercises, which were not made public, took place in the Western Pacific last month.
“Multiple military assets” were cited as being involved by one source. According to a second account, there was an unofficial agreement between the parties claiming that the exercises were the outcome of fortuitous contacts and that they were called “unplanned sea encounters” instead of formal drills.
“It’s like I am dining in this restaurant and you also happen to be here,” stated the source. “Then it looks like I am only sharing the same table with someone.”
Both sides reportedly included frigates, supply and support ships, and other military boats in the multi-day drills. The drills aimed to rehearse “basic” operations, including communications, refueling, and replenishment.
The Taiwanese navy, in a statement to Reuters, stated that it “acts in concert with the U.S.-promoted Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea,” or CUES, to handle unanticipated events at sea and to minimize “interference” with one another.
Without providing further details, the statement stated, “The Navy often makes contact with vessels of other countries and conducts encounter drills as needed.”
The Pentagon said it would not comment.
The United States does not have an official diplomatic connection with Taiwan. However, Washington is legally obligated to give Taiwan the resources it needs to defend itself and is the island’s main international supporter, despite formally recognizing Beijing.
A third source reports that the “unplanned encounters” between the two navies primarily involved simulations, but these exercises are essential to ensure the two armies can coordinate in an emergency.
According to the source, the two navies also rehearsed a variety of tactical actions, such as looking for targets underwater.
To reduce hostilities between military forces at sea, CUES was developed approximately 10 years ago. It offers recommendations for safe operating distances and speeds, a common language for communications, and what to do if a ship gets damaged.
A request for comment was not immediately answered by China’s ministry of defense.
Tang Hua, the head of Taiwan’s military, visited the US last month and talked about ways to strengthen bilateral naval cooperation, according to Reuters. China’s foreign ministry responded by declaring that it was adamantly against “military collusion” between Taiwan and the US.
It was revealed that Taiwan’s Chief of Staff, Admiral Mei Chia-shu, was present at the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command’s change-of-command ceremony in Hawaii this month. His presence was noticed in the audience of an official photo.
One of the main points of dispute in Sino-US relations is China’s long-standing claim that Taiwan is its most sensitive territorial issue.
Taipei maintains that Chinese territorial claims are baseless because the People’s Republic of China has never ruled Taiwan; however, Beijing has not abandoned the use of force to annex the island.
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