Harris, U.S. Vice President, Says "U.S. Military Will Conduct Operations in Taiwan Strait Without Wavering"

"China's Actions Cause Instability in International Order... Continued Support for Taiwan's Self-Defense"

On the 28th, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris visited the U.S. Navy base in Yokosuka, on the outskirts of Tokyo, Japan. Photo by AP/ Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heeyoon] U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris stated that the U.S. military will conduct operations in the Taiwan Strait "steadily and without fear" amid China's high-intensity military demonstrations in the area.

On the 28th, during her visit to the U.S. Navy base in Yokosuka, on the outskirts of Tokyo, Harris said, "We will continue to oppose any unilateral changes to the current situation."

Vice President Harris emphasized, "Consistent with our long-standing policy, we will continue to support Taiwan's self-defense," adding, "Taiwan is a vibrant democracy that contributes to global interests ranging from technology to health and beyond, and the United States will continue to deepen our unofficial ties."

She went on to point out that "China is undermining the core elements of the international rules-based order," indicating that China is engaging in destabilizing actions.

Vice President Harris stated, "China has wielded military and economic power to coerce and threaten neighboring countries," and added, "We have witnessed unsettling behavior in the East China Sea and the South China Sea, and most recently, provocations crossing the Taiwan Strait."

The Yokosuka U.S. military base visited by Vice President Harris is the largest overseas base of the U.S. Navy. It houses 24,000 military personnel and civilians. It is also the home port of the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan, a key force of the U.S. Seventh Fleet under the Indo-Pacific Command, which is prioritized for deployment in the event of a contingency on the Korean Peninsula, as well as a carrier strike group composed of about ten Aegis cruisers and destroyers equipped with Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) capabilities.

Meanwhile, the Joint Chiefs of Staff announced that North Korea launched a ballistic missile into the East Sea this afternoon. This came three days after firing a short-range ballistic missile on the 25th and one day before Vice President Harris's visit to South Korea.

Vice President Harris, who will visit South Korea on the 29th, is scheduled to meet President Yoon Suk-yeol and visit the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ).