Retired US Generals Urge Accelerated Taiwan Arms Sales After Xi-Biden Summit

Interactions between US President-elect Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping have always been a focus of international attention. As discussions surrounding a potential meeting between the two leaders continue to heat up, retired US Navy Rear Admiral Mark Montgomery publicly stated on the 25th, Taipei time, that he hopes the US government will advance arms sales to Taiwan at the earliest possible speed following the conclusion of a Trump-Xi summit. Montgomery clearly pointed out that the Taiwan issue will inevitably be of paramount concern to Beijing at the negotiating table of the top US and Chinese leaders. However, for Taiwan and democratic allies in the Indo-Pacific region, what is even more critical is the specific response and strategic stance US President Trump will adopt, which will directly affect the trajectory of cross-Strait dynamics in the coming years.

Delving into the strategic context of this issue, US arms sales to Taiwan have consistently been one of the most sensitive and core disputes in US-China relations. The Beijing government has long sought to obstruct military exchanges and arms sales between the US and Taiwan through diplomatic pressure and economic enticements, attempting to erode Taiwan's self-defense capabilities. Nevertheless, under its domestic legal framework, the US has long upheld the Taiwan Relations Act and the Six Assurances as the cornerstone of its policy toward Taiwan. Montgomery specifically emphasized that as long as the US continues to steadfastly adhere to these established legal commitments, ensures that Taiwan can steadily obtain the advanced weaponry and equipment necessary to maintain its defense, and makes thorough deterrence plans at military and strategic levels to effectively prevent Beijing from taking any form of military coercion or gray-zone actions against Taiwan, the international community can solidly ensure the security and stability of the Taiwan Strait.

From a macroscopic geopolitical perspective, Montgomery's appeal is not unfounded, but rather based on the increasingly severe security challenges currently facing the Indo-Pacific region. In recent years, frequent incursions by Chinese military aircraft and vessels around Taiwan have not only posed a substantive threat to Taiwan's national defense and security, but have also openly challenged the rules-based international order. Under such circumstances, retired US generals and many national security experts generally believe that accelerating the delivery of approved arms sales to Taiwan and continuously strengthening Taiwan's asymmetric combat capabilities are indispensable means to maintain the military balance across the Taiwan Strait. Washington's decision-makers must demonstrate an unwavering defense commitment while engaging in high-level diplomacy with Beijing, so as to avoid sending erroneous strategic signals to Beijing that could trigger regional miscalculation.

For Taiwan, the public advice from the retired US general highlights Taiwan's important position in the US global strategic layout. Taiwan is not only a key partner of the democratic camp on the frontlines, but also an essential defense line for maintaining the security of the first island chain. Facing the Chinese Communist Party's escalating military pressure and political extortion, aside from continuing to promote national defense self-reliance and implementing policies for indigenous warships and aircraft production, purchasing advanced defensive weapons from the US remains an important pathway for rapidly upgrading overall defensive combat capabilities and forming an effective strategic deterrent. Therefore, hoping that the US side will promptly advance arms sales following the Trump-Xi summit is not only a practical military need, but also carries strong political declaratory significance, representing that the Taiwan-US security partnership continues to move forward steadily amid a transition of power.

In summary, high-level interactions between the US and China are undoubtedly the centerpiece of bilateral relations, but Taiwan's national security and determination for self-defense should never become a bargaining chip in major power transactions. The viewpoints put forward by Montgomery once again remind the international community that only through substantive military deterrent power and firm legal commitments can Beijing truly be made to think twice and refrain from rash actions. In the future, how the US government handles the scale and scope of its strategic cooperation with Taiwan when managing its relations with China will be a key indicator for testing the credibility and effectiveness of its Indo-Pacific policy, and all sectors in Taiwan will continue to closely monitor subsequent developments to ensure foolproof national security.

(Source: Central News Agency)