The US plans to increase the number of US military personnel training Taiwanese forces on the island in the coming months, according to US officials quoted by the Wall Street Journal and CNN.

It is not yet clear how many additional US troops will take part in the massive exercise.

On Tuesday, Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen told a visiting bipartisan US congressional delegation that the two powers would “cooperate even more closely” and plan to “intensify military exchanges.”

Even a modest increase in the number of troops in Taiwan could escalate tensions with China, which in recent months has seen the US shore up its position around the island, building up forces on nearby Okinawa and Guam. In response, China accused the US of undermining peace and stability in the region.

In a 2021 interview with CNN, the President of Taiwan acknowledged that there were US military personnel on the island at the time, but said there were “not as many as people thought,” adding that Taipei has “a wide range of cooperation with the US.” in order to increase our defense capability.”

Between 20 and 40 US military personnel have been based in Taiwan in recent years, according to the US Department of Defense. Most of them are Marines in charge of embassy security and diplomatic security at the de facto US embassy-American Institute in Taiwan. The US does not have an official embassy in Taiwan as it does not recognize the island as an independent state.

Last summer, Taiwanese troops participated in the Northern Strike exercise led by the Michigan National Guard. The annual two-week exercise was held in August at Camp Grayling, days after then-Speaker of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi visited the Democratically Administered Territory, prompting an angry response from China, including a military show of force around the island.

It is not clear how many Taiwanese military personnel have participated in the multinational exercise, but Taiwan may take part again this summer. The exercise, which also has a shorter winter phase, involves about 7,000 people each year.

Pentagon spokesman Brigadier General Pat Ryder declined to comment on plans to expand training for Taiwanese forces.

“We have no comment on specific operations, combat or training, but I would like to emphasize that our support and defense relationship with Taiwan continues to be in line with the current threat posed by the People’s Republic of China,” Brigadier General Ryder said.

Source: CNN