US should deploy military in Taiwan: Former US NSA John Bolton -

Washington: Former US National Security Advisor (NSA) John Bolton demanded that the United States should give up the ambiguity in its Taiwan policy and deploy its military in Taiwan. Bolton voiced this demand during the ‘Global Taiwan National Affairs Symposium’. Earlier, former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also had insisted that the Biden administration award diplomatic acceptance to Taiwan.

The United States has indicated to increase its cooperation with Taiwan given the Russia-Ukraine war. This includes collaboration in the economic, trade and defence sectors. Three US delegations have visited Taiwan in the last three months. It is said that the economic and military cooperation featured in the discussions. The US Congressmen have recently demanded that Taiwan should be inducted into the Indo-Pacific Economic agreement to retaliate against the Chinese hegemonic activities. The demand for a free trade agreement with Taiwan is also growing in the United States.

Against this background, the statement of former NSA Bolton is drawing attention. Bolton claimed, ‘It is time the United States gave up the ambiguity in its policies regarding Taiwan. The background has been created for forming a front between the United States and Taiwan. There is a provision to that effect in the US laws.’ He also pointed out that initiative for cooperation on theoretical as well as practical levels with Taiwan is necessary to improve the military capabilities of Taiwan.

Former US NSA warned, ‘Both the United States and Taiwan will have to increase defence expenditure to improve Taiwanese military capabilities. There needs to be more appropriate coordination on the military level. The United States needs to deploy its military in Taiwan for this purpose. This deployment is in the interest of both countries and will send a correct political message.’ Bolton added that this deployment would be easily possible if the United States awarded diplomatic freedom and status to Taiwan. He also reminded that the US military was deployed in Taiwan before the United States severed ties with Taiwan in 1979. Bolton mentioned that he had demanded full diplomatic status for Taiwan in an article written by him 22 years ago. The Former NSA pointed out that even if this will not make China happy, this will be an essential step from the foreign policy point of view.