Reference News Network, July 20 report: According to the Taiwan China Times, the biennial "Rim of the Pacific" military exercise led by the United States will be held in 2026, but the Taiwan region has not yet been invited. However, the U.S. Senate Committee on Armed Services recently passed the "2026 Defense Authorization Act," which includes a "strong recommendation" for the U.S. Department of Defense to invite the Taiwan region to participate in the 2026 "Rim of the Pacific" military exercise.
The U.S. Senate Committee on Armed Services approved the "2026 Defense Authorization Act," and the part about inviting the Taiwan region to participate in the "Rim of the Pacific" military exercise uses the wording "strongly recommend" this time, rather than the previous "recommend." It also requires that if the invitation is not extended, the U.S. Secretary of Defense must explain the reasons to Congress.
However, according to Tong Zhong, a defense expert in Taiwan, the "Rim of the Pacific" military exercise has become more political and diplomatic than military. The participation of the Taiwan region in the exercise may cause doubts among other countries and conflict with the U.S. One-China policy. There are many issues that the United States may not have the ability to handle, and China will view the participation of the Taiwan region in the exercise as an provocation and touching the One-China red line.
He said that although the United States views China as a strategic competitor, it still has concerns, so the difficulty for the Taiwan region to participate in the exercise remains significant.
Zhang Jing, a senior researcher at the Taiwan Strategic Studies Association, said that the U.S. Congress has made suggestions year after year, but each time they have failed. The expectations for this one should not be too high.
According to reports, the Taiwan region has never been invited to join the "Rim of the Pacific" military exercise since its inception.
Regarding the collusion between the U.S. and Taiwan, Zhu Fenglian, spokesperson for the State Council's Taiwan Affairs Office, previously stated that some people in the U.S. Congress are determined to insert negative content related to Taiwan into relevant bills, attempting to create so-called justifications and basis for "arming Taiwan." Such actions grossly interfere in China's internal affairs, violating the One-China principle and the three Sino-U.S. joint communiqués, sending the wrong signal to the "Taiwan independence" separatist forces. We firmly oppose this.
Zhu Fenglian said that we urge the U.S. side to truly abide by the serious political commitments it has made to China on the Taiwan issue, stop deliberating on the relevant bill, and stop interfering in China's internal affairs.
Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7529024568360206867/
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