USA: U.S. Forces Work With Partners in Numerous Military Exercises

By Terri Moon Cronk 

DoD News, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON, July 17, 2017 — Military exercises are underway between U.S. military forces and those of many other nations, Pentagon spokesman Navy Capt. Jeff Davis, told reporters today.

In the Pacific region, Exercise Talisman Saber 2017 involves more than 33,000 U.S. and Australian personnel who are participating in the biennial military training exercise in Australia, June 23 to July 25.

U.S. Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force personnel, as well as Australian forces and members of other government agencies in both countries are participating in Talisman Saber, which is jointly sponsored by the U.S. Pacific Command and the Australian military's Joint Operations Command.

It features 21 ships, including the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan, the Bonhomme Richard Expeditionary Strike Group, and more than 200 joint aircraft. This year's seventh iteration of the exercise is focusing on training a combined task force of U.S. and Australian forces in a mid-intensity, high-end warfighting scenario, incorporating interagency participation, along with a command post exercise involving a transition between a three- and four-star headquarters.

"Talisman Saber provides an invaluable opportunity to conduct operations in a combined, joint and interagency environment that will increase both countries' ability to plan and execute contingency responses, from combat missions to humanitarian assistance efforts," Davis said.

News Report: Antsy Taiwan Waiting on Long-Rumored US Arms Sale Amid Tensions with Beijing

The government of Taiwan has expressed their appreciation for American lawmakers who have called for expedited arms sales to the island nation as tensions between it and the mainland continue to escalate.

The Taiwanese Foreign Ministry and the Mainland Affairs Council have both expressed gratitude to American leaders who have been pushing for the arms deal. "Our President Tsai Ing-wen has many times called on the US side to supply appropriate arms for Taiwan in an effort to maintain cross-strait and regional stability," replied Chiu Chui-cheng, vice-chair of the Mainland Affairs Council, in a statement. "It is the obligation for both sides of the Taiwan Strait to maintain cross-strait and regional stability and we hope Beijing can seek to resolve our disputes through dialogue."

The legislator spearheading the expediting of the sale is Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee Ed Royce (R-CA), who chastised the White House for delaying arms sales to Taiwan. "I remain concerned about successive administrations" delays in arms sales notification for Taiwan, which have needlessly dragged out the arms sales process," said Royce on Thursday.

News Report: After Panama, Beijing to 'Put More Pressure on Taiwan' Over One-China Principle

China may well establish relations with several more of Taiwan's diplomatic allies unless Taipei pursues a policy which is more oriented toward the Chinese mainland, Dr. Joseph Cheng, Professor of Political Science at the City University of Hong Kong, told Radio Sputnik.

On Monday, Panama and China signed an agreement on the establishment of full diplomatic relations, in which Panama supported Beijing's One China principle. 

"The Government of the Republic of Panama recognizes that there is only one China in the world," China and Panama declared in a joint statement on Tuesday.

"The government of the People's Republic of China is the only legitimate government representing all China, and Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinese territory."

In doing so, Panama became the second country in six months to break off relations with Taiwan, which Beijing considers to be a province of China. In December, the small African island nation of Sao Tome and Principe also established relations with Beijing. 

The move leaves Taiwan in greater international isolation, since it is now recognized by just 19 UN member states, as well as the Vatican. Eleven of the countries which still recognize Taiwan are in Latin America and the Caribbean.

News Story: Chinese FM responds to "end of diplomatic truce" with Taiwan

BEIJING, June 14 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Wednesday that Taiwan would find itself in a dead end if it denies the 1992 Consensus that the mainland and Taiwan belong to one China.

Lu Kang made the remarks at a daily press briefing when asked whether the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Panama Tuesday means the end of a "diplomatic truce" between the mainland and Taiwan.

The one-China principle not only concerns the core interest of China and the feelings of the 1.3 billion Chinese, but also is the prerequisite and political foundation of developing relations between China and foreign countries, said Lu.

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Report: Taiwan Outraged by Panama's Decision to Cut Diplomatic Ties With Taipei

Taiwan's Foreign Minister David Lee said that Taiwan regrets and is outraged by Panama's decision to break diplomatic ties with the island.

BEIJING (Sputnik) — Taiwan regrets and is outraged by Panama's decision to break diplomatic ties with the island, Taiwan's Foreign Minister David Lee said on Tuesday, adding that Taipei would cut ties and halt all cooperation projects with Panama City.

"Panama succumbed to Beijing's influence for the sake of economic interest, informing Taiwan on a unilateral rupture of diplomatic relations, what we regret and what we are outraged by," Lee told a press conference as quoted by the CNA news agency, adding that Taiwan would cut all contacts and cooperation with Panama and pull out its diplomatic staff from the country.

News Story: Only one China in the world - mainland spokesperson

BEIJING, June 13 (Xinhua) -- The establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Panama accords with the will of the people and represents an irresistible trend, according to a Taiwan affairs spokesperson for China's mainland Tuesday.

"There is only one China in the world. It has been a universal consensus of the international society to adhere to the one-China principle," said Ma Xiaoguang, spokesperson for the State Council's Taiwan Affairs Office.

Ma's remarks came after China and Panama signed a joint communique Tuesday morning to establish diplomatic relations at the ambassadorial level.

Read the full story at Xinhua

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• China, Panama establish diplomatic ties

• China appreciates Panama's recognition of one-China policy

• China-Panama diplomatic ties signal universal consensus on one-China principle