The Pentagon’s top official for Asia-Pacific affairs added that Taiwanese people should have a say in their own future
Taiwan News
Date: Date: 2019/01/22
By: Sophia Yang, Taiwan News, Staff Writer
File photo: Randall Schriver (By Central News Agency)
TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – Randall Schriver, the US Assistant Secretary of Defense for Asian and Pacific Security Affairs, said in an interview with Japanese media that Taiwanese people should have a say in their own future, and that the United States should provide security assistance to the country based on the Taiwan Relations Act.
In the interview with the Asahi Shimbun (朝日新聞), Schriver spoke of a new defense intelligence assessment recently released by the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), saying that China’s ultimate goal is Taiwan unification, and its People’s Liberation Army (PLA) is developing capabilities and tactics to do so.
He added that Taiwanese people should have a say in their own future, rather than being forced to endure the outcomes, the Central News Agency reported.
It’s not clear to what extent the security assistance and protection to be provided to Taiwan, and he denied any rumors of a joint US-Taiwan military drill. [FULL STORY]
