Deputy Defense Minister Alex Po (柏鴻輝) spoke to the Legislature on Wednesday about the situation along the Taiwan Strait in anticipation of the presidential inauguration on May 20. Po announced that Taiwan’s military will remain combat-ready, pay close attention to CCP developments, and work alongside nations with the same philosophy of maintaining peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific.
Some legislators have expressed concern about the possibility of Taiwan participating in the trilateral security partnership between Australia, the U.K., and the U.S. (AUKUS). Po responded saying that while it would be beneficial to join partnerships that reflect the same values Taiwan holds, the focus right now is on how Taiwan can actually garner support from allies without necessarily doing so in a high-profile manner.
Po pointed out that the job of Taiwan’s Armed Forces is to ensure the security of national land, airspace, and territorial waters. He added that 24-hour combat readiness has never ceased, so whether it’s the year 2027 or 2035, the military will continue playing a role that is beneficial to regional security, neither seeking nor avoiding war.