Chase, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for China Affairs of the United States, visited Taiwan.

(Taken from the official website of the US Department of Defense)

[Compilation of Sun Yuqing, reporter Yang Chengyu/comprehensive report] The British "Financial Times" disclosed on the 17th that the US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for China Affairs Chase had arrived in Taiwan on the same day for a visit. Taiwan, especially at a time when the United States and China are at odds over the Chinese spy balloon incident, is particularly eye-catching.

Defense Minister Qiu Guozheng said in an interview in the Legislative Yuan yesterday that it is a good opportunity for any group or country to make favorable suggestions on Taiwan's defense operations.

When asked about the time when Chase came to Taiwan, Qiu Guozheng said that he would not explain the details until he was notified.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Yongjian said he had no information to provide.

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Financial Times reveals that Chase has arrived in Taiwan

The Financial Times first quoted four people familiar with the matter as saying on the 17th that Chase was visiting Mongolia to discuss defense matters with the Mongolian government and was expected to visit Taiwan within a few days. tower.

Prior to this, former U.S. President Trump’s former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for East Asian Affairs Klink also secretly visited Taiwan in November 2019. He was the first U.S. Department of Defense to visit Taiwan after the severance of diplomatic relations between the United States and Taiwan. high level.

Taiwan trip attracts attention amid U.S.-China rivalry

Pentagon spokesman Mayners did not comment on Chase's trip to Taiwan, but emphasized that the United States' support for Taiwan and its defense relationship with Taiwan are still consistent with China's threats to Taiwan. "Our commitment to Taiwan is rock-solid. Contribute to the maintenance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and the region.”

In September last year, the Pentagon handed over Taiwan Affairs, which was originally under the East Asia Office, to the newly established Deputy Assistant Secretary for China Affairs Chase; the Financial Times also described Chase as the "Chief China Affairs Officer" of the US Department of Defense.

The Financial Times pointed out that Chase's visit to Taiwan coincided with the Chinese spy balloon intrusion incident, and the timing was very sensitive.

When Biden visited Japan in May last year, the Financial Times also reported that Rear Admiral Studman, the chief intelligence officer of the US Indo-Pacific Command, visited Taiwan at that time.