As China tensions mount, US planning to quadruple military presence in Taiwan

KARAH RUCKER: THE U.S. HAS PLANS TO QUADRUPLE ITS MILITARY PRESENCE IN TAIWAN. ACCORDING TO U.S. OFFICIALS, ONE YEAR AGO, THERE WERE 30 U.S. TROOPS ON THE ISLAND.

NOW THE U.S. PLANS TO DEPLOY BETWEEN 100 AND 200 TROOPS TO TAIWAN IN THE COMING MONTHS.

THE INCREASE IN PERSONNEL IS MEANT TO BOLSTER A TRAINING PROGRAM TO READY TAIWAN FORCES IN CASE OF A CHINESE INVASION.

THE U.S. DEPLOYMENT TO TAIWAN IS THE LARGEST IN DECADES.

THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF MORE TROOPS TO TAIWAN COMES AS RELATIONS BETWEEN THE US AND CHINA HAS BEEN DIMINISHING.

CHINA WAS UPSET WITH THE US OVER THEN-HOUSE-SPEAKER NANCY PELOSI’S VISIT TO TAIWAN…SPARKING MILITARY DRILLS OVER THE ISLAND LAST YEAR.

AND AS OF LATE – CONTROVERSY OVER CHINESE SPY BALLOONS ENTERING U.S. AIRSPACE.

THE U.S. AND CHINA – POSITIONING THEMSELVES FURTHER AND FURTHER APART. 

WITH TAIWAN’S SOVEREIGNTY IN THE MIDDLE OF THOSE DIFFERENCES.