The United States plans to increase the number of its military in Taiwan in the coming months, The Wall Street Journal reports, citing sources in the US Administration.
According to the publication, the US Department of Defence is trying not to speak of its plans openly, so as not to provoke China thereby.
At the same time, it is reported that the number of US military personnel in Taiwan will be increased from about 30 to 100-200 people – becoming the largest increase in the number of American forces on the island in decades.
Taiwan has been governed by its own administration since 1949, preserving the flag and some other attributes of the former Republic of China, which existed on the mainland before the Communists came to power. Following Beijing’s official position, which is supported by most countries, Taiwan is one of the provinces of the People's Republic of China.
Earlier, the visit of the US House of Representatives Speaker, Nancy Pelosi, to Taiwan dealt a political blow to the economic ties of the two states. China condemned the visit, seeing the US support for Taiwanese separatism in that step.
