The U.S. military is sending up to 200 troops to Taiwan as the country faces a potential Chinese invasion, a move that comes amid heightened tensions between Washington and Beijing.
Officials say the military is preparing to send between 100 and 200 troops to Taiwan, building on the 30 troops deployed there last year, according to the Wall Street Journal. The decision is part of a training program intended to reinforce Taiwan's defenses against China, marking "the largest deployment of forces in decades by the U.S. on Taiwan," the Journal reported.
"We don't have a comment on specific operations, engagements, or training, but I would highlight that our support for, and defense relationship with, Taiwan remains aligned against the current threat posed by the People’s Republic of China," Lt. Col. Marty Meiners, a Defense Department spokesman, told Fox News. The Michigan National Guard is also helping to train part of the Taiwanese military.
The program expansion comes amid growing tensions between Washington and Beijing following the recent Chinese spy balloon takedown, although the training program has been in the works for months before the balloon made headlines.
The United States' open support for Taiwan has only increased tensions between Washington and Beijing. After former House speaker Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.) visited Taiwan in August, China launched missiles around the island as a demonstration of its military power.
Last November, President Joe Biden met with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Indonesia, where they "reiterated their agreement that a nuclear war should never be fought and can never be won," according to a White House release. China has repeatedly claimed Taiwan as its territory and vowed to take it by force if necessary.