Greene assures Taiwan of US support amid Iran war
The top American diplomat to Taiwan sought to send a reassuring message that his government supported the island both by strengthening defenses and ensuring energy supply during the Iran war, in a speech delivered Thursday to senior Taiwanese leaders.
The United States is the main arms supplier and international supporter of Taiwan, which is claimed by China despite the absence of formal diplomatic ties.
Speaking at an American Chamber of Commerce dinner in Taiwan, in the presence of President Lai Ching-te and other senior officials, Raymond Greene said that US commitments under the Taiwan Relations Act, which includes arms sales, remained “rock solid”.
“Our goal remains to create an environment in which both sides of the Taiwan Strait can peacefully resolve their differences without coercion. To achieve this, we view dialogue and deterrence as two sides of a stable coin,” he declared.
“In this context, we continue to support Taiwan’s efforts to acquire essential defense capabilities,” Greene added, highlighting Taiwan’s focus on acquiring cost-effective systems like drones and integrated anti-aircraft and anti-missile defenses.
TRUMP TO MEET XI IN MAY
Greene, who heads the American Institute in Taiwan managing relations in the absence of formal diplomatic ties, spoke just a day after US President Donald Trump announced he would meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in mid-May, a highly anticipated trip postponed due to the Iran war.
Beijing, which has never ruled out the use of force to bring the island under its control, demanded an end to American arms sales to Taiwan, a democratic nation.
Greene also committed to the US providing more crude oil and natural gas to Taiwan to “further mitigate the effects of current disruptions in global raw material supplies,” without directly mentioning the Middle East conflict.
Taiwan’s state refiner, CPC, and American LNG exporter Cheniere Energy recently agreed that the US company would double gas imports from CPC to the island, he added.
“As I said last year, America is ready to meet Taiwan’s energy needs, regardless of sources and technologies.”
