Nearly 200 American military advisers were stationed in Taiwan. According to reports these advisers will train Taiwanese troops to prepare the country's military for a possible attack by China.
American advisers have been seen since early March arriving at a Kaohsiung base in Gangshan district, according to local media.
The military "has mainly assumed the role of training centers for recruits and reserve brigades," the official youth service (CNA) said.
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According to CNA, the Americans, who are currently stationed at various bases across Taiwan, will provide the country's military with practical advice on training methods.
On the other hand, an editor of the military website China in Arms, Wendell Minnick, said that the US teams are in Taiwan for observation and assessment, not for troop training.
The US Pentagon's plans to deploy military advisers to Taiwan were first revealed in February. It was understood that this decision had been taken a long time ago and was therefore not connected to the recent tensions near the Taiwan Strait (such as the new Chinese exercises in the area).
Taiwan also plans to send a combined arms brigade to the United States for training in the second half of this year.
"Taiwan's military needs as much direct contact with other militaries as possible, as it has been isolated for more than 40 years and as a result its development capabilities have been reduced," said Grant Newsham, a former US Marine Corps colonel.
Purchase of 400 Missiles from USA?
At the same time, it became known that Taiwan can acquire up to 400 anti-ship surface-launched Harpoon missiles, which are intended to be used to repel a possible Chinese invasion. That sale was approved by Congress in 2020.
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The island nation has previously acquired naval versions of this missile from the US, which are manufactured by Boeing. Now the first deal for the land-launched mobile version may take place, according to reports.
The US Pentagon announced the $1.7 billion contract with Boeing on April 7, but did not mention Taiwan as a buyer. The deal comes at a time when tensions between the US and China are heating up, especially over the issue of Taiwan, the island nation that Beijing says is part of Chinese territory.
