Washington is preparing evacuation plans for US citizens living in Taiwan as Sino-American tensions boil over, according to multiple sources.
The planning has reportedly been underway for a minimum of six months, although "it's heated up over the past two months or so," according to a senior US intelligence official speaking on the condition of anonymity as he wasn't authorized to discuss the issue told The Messenger.
He added that a "heightened level of tension" had driven the preparations but said "It's nothing you wouldn't read in the news. Forces building up. China aligning with Russia on Ukraine."
Another source familiar with the matter cited Russia's February 2022 invasion of Ukraine as a major driver of the planning. They said: "Ukraine drove a relook at the plans."
The plans have not been discussed publically by the US Government but Lt. Col. Martin Meiners is reported to have said when approached: "We do not see a conflict in the Taiwan Strait as imminent or inevitable."READ MORE: Ukraine power plant where staff 'tortured with electricity' by Russian captors
Another source added that the planning had been kept quiet as it was a sensitive subject for Taiwan's Government while one former State Department official said: "Even talking about an [evacuation plan] starts people thinking something may be going on even if it is just prudent planning".
Daily Express
TaiwanPlus
WION
In 2020, under 5,000 Americans lived in Taiwan, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). However, that number is likely higher on a daily basis with tourists and business travelers visiting the island.
Tensions between the US and China have soared in recent months with a series of high-level visits to the island and the United States by both American and Taiwanese politicians.
Relations reached a boiling point earlier this year when a Chinese balloon traversed the US. Washington says it was a spy balloon while Beijing claims it was only used for civilian purposes.
In a saga that saw Joe Biden heavily criticized by his opponents, the balloon was allowed to cross over the continental US before being shot down over the coast of South Carolina.
The incident saw Secretary of State Antony Blinken cancel an official visit to China while Beijing condemned the shooting down of the device.
However, last week, officials said that senior diplomats from China and the US engaged in "candid and productive" discussions in Beijing, agreeing to maintain open lines of communication to avoid spiraling into an armed conflict.
Taiwan is democratically governed, but China sees the island as a rogue province. Taipei says the Taiwanese people are the only ones who can decide the country's fate.
The US maintains a policy of strategic ambiguity surrounding the island and does not comment on whether it would come to the island's defense, although Joe Biden has several times confirmed it would.
Washington does provide the island the means to defend itself with advanced air defense missile systems, fighter jets and other weapons.
選擇“Disable on www.wenxuecity.com”
選擇“don't run on pages on this domain”
