Ely Ratner, United States assistant secretary of defense for Indo-Pacific security affairs, said at a Senate hearing Thursday that he does not think China will engage in any “major aggression” against Taiwan before the end of this decade.
At the Senate hearing on “evaluating U.S.-China policy in the era of strategic competition,” Ratner and U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman were questioned by lawmakers on their assessment of the China-Taiwan issue.
Ratner was asked by Republican Senator Marco Rubio about the likelihood of China launching an invasion of Taiwan before the end of this decade.
“Is there any way we end this decade without China doing something about Taiwan, one way or the other?” Republican Senator Marco Rubio asked. “Is there any way you can envision getting to the end of this decade without China wanting to do something about Taiwan?”
In response, Ratner said there is a difference between wanting to do something and actually doing it.
“I think they (the Chinese) have intention, but absolutely I think we can get to the end of this decade without them committing major aggression against Taiwan,” he said.
Earlier in the hearing, Democratic Senator Chris Murphy asked Ratner’s opinion on whether China had made a decision to pursue reunification with Taiwan through force, and whether an armed conflict between the U.S. and China over the Taiwan issue was inevitable.
Citing recent public assessments by U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, Ratner said the Department of Defense maintains that an invasion of Taiwan is not “imminent or inevitable.”
“The department is laser-focused on maintaining deterrence today, tomorrow and in the future,” Ratner said. “And we’re going to continue working with our allies and partners to do what’s necessary to ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific.”
Meanwhile, Republican Senator Jim Risch asked Sherman about the Taiwan government’s recent requests for defense items from the U.S.
Sherman responded that the Department of State’s (DoS) Bureau of Political-Military Affairs had notified the U.S. Congress last year of 13 different arms sales to Taiwan, including 10 new sales and three amendments to previously notified sales — the largest number of notifications for arms sales to Taiwan in the past 20 years.
The recent notifications included sales of munitions for F-16 fighter jets, spare parts for Taiwan’s air force, programs to bolster the capabilities of Taiwan’s army and navy, and continued support for Taiwan’s surveillance radar program, she said.
Since 2010, the DoS has notified the U.S. Congress of more than US$37 billion in arms sales to Taiwan, which included US$21 billion over the past three years, Sherman said.
These developments are critical to the U.S. efforts to help Taiwan develop asymmetric defense capabilities, to train and integrate Taiwan’s reserve force, and to make sure Taiwan has mobile and agile systems, she said.
In her opening remarks at the hearing, Sherman reiterated that U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration will continue working for peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, will remain committed to the U.S.’ longstanding “One-China” policy, and will oppose any unilateral changes to the cross-strait status quo.
“Our policy has not changed,” she said. “What has changed is Beijing’s growing coercion. So, we will keep assisting Taiwan in maintaining a sufficient self-defense capability.”
However, Sherman sidestepped a question by Republican Senator Bill Hagerty about whether she supported a component in an act that authorized the U.S. executive branch to propose, and the legislative branch to review, appropriation bills to provide an annual grant of up to US$2 billion from 2023 to 2027.
“I believe we have to look at every single option we have,” Sherman said.
When asked the same question, Ratner said “the (State) Department was clear that any authorization in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) should be met with appropriation.”
The Taiwan Enhanced Resilience Act was bundled in the 2023 NDAA that was signed into law by Biden in December last year, and included provisions that authorized the DoS to propose up to US$2 billion in annual grants for five years and up to US$2 billion in direct loans to Taiwan for military purposes.
Under the Act, Taiwan would be required to pay off the loan and interest in 12 years.
Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel