Taiwan Defense Minister Asserts Deeper US Ties Without Confirmed US Corroboration
Taiwan Defense Minister Wellington Koo stated on August 3, 2026, that Taiwan-US military cooperation is closer than publicly known, citing exchanges with US Pacific Command at all levels, but no US Indo-Pacific Command statement was found to confirm the claim. Koo also argued a Taiwan Strait blockade would cost China more than Taiwan, a position supported in part by CSIS data showing $1.4 trillion in Chinese trade transited the strait in 2022, though analysts note a partial blockade may not significantly affect international trade and a full blockade carries severe risks for Taiwan as well. China Coast Guard patrols east of Taiwan, which Koo's remarks are sometimes linked to, have been ongoing since June 2026 and were characterized by Beijing as routine law enforcement.