Former US Defence Chief to Visit Taiwan This Week

Taiwan Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that from this week Monday to Thursday, Former US Secretary of Defence Mark Esper is leading a think tank delegation of three members to visit Taiwan.

Mr. Esper, who served as U.S. defence chief from 2019 to 2020 in Trump Administration, is joined by Barry Pavel, senior VP and Director of the Atlantic Council and Stefano Stefanini, former permanent representative of Italy to NATO, a non-resident senior fellow to a Washington D.C.-based think tank.

In a statement, Taiwan Foreign Ministry said, “in this 4-day visit, the delegates will be meeting with Taiwan senior government officials, think tanks members and enterprise representatives, to exchange views on both Indo-Pacific security situation updates and Taiwan’s overall relations with US and Europe”.

Taiwan Foreign Ministry calls Esper a long-term friend to Taiwan. It also said, “Esper has repeatedly reiterated his supports towards democratic Taiwan on many occasions during his Tenure as US Defence Chief”.

As Russian invasion to Ukraine has brought more international attentions on the threat that the authoritarian Communist China poses to the democratic Taiwan. Taiwan Foreign Ministry express the hope that delegation’s visit will help American and European policy makers better understand Taiwan and they would strengthen their supports to Taiwan even further.