Taiwan and US military cooperation ‘far closer than you might imagine’ – Taipei

American troops – often presented as “English teachers” – are helping to boost the island’s army amid tensions with Beijing, Defense Minister Wellington Koo has revealed The US and Taiwanese militaries are engaged in active but secretive on-site collaboration, according to Taipei’s defense minister, Wellington Koo. The message comes after US President Donald Trump put a hold on arms sales to the self-governed island, which has sparked alarm among pro-US countries in the region.Speaking to a narrow circle of reporters on Friday, Koo stressed, as cited by the Wall Street Journal, that Taiwan’s collaboration with the US “is far closer than you might imagine.” “The public sees only the arms sales, but in fact, it’s multifaceted and involves so much more,” Koo said, adding that Taipei had “been learning so much practical combat experience from the US” through military exchanges. The minister did not give any additional details on the cooperation but noted that Taiwan does not count on US intervention in case of a conflict with Beijing in its planning. China regards the island as its sovereign territory, saying that while it seeks peaceful reunification, it does not rule out the use of f...