Former US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper leads delegation to Taiwan

Former US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper leads delegation to Taiwan

2022-07-18

Former U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper is leading a delegation from the Atlantic Council to Taiwan. The four-day visit will include a meeting with President Tsai Ing-wen, as well as talks with government agencies and think tanks about regional security. Esper is a long-time supporter of Taiwan, having advocated for the U.S. to reevaluate its “one China” policy and shift to strategic clarity on Taiwan.

Mark Esper (Feb. 22)
Former US secretary of defense
As I mentioned, Minister Wu is a champion of the U.S.-Taiwan partnership. So it is my honor to welcome him here.

Earlier this year, foreign minister Joseph Wu discussed U.S.-Taiwan relations via teleconference with former U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper. Now, the former U.S. official is leading a delegation to Taiwan for four days, in his capacity as a scholar of the Atlantic Council think tank. With him will be Atlantic Council senior vice president and director Barry Pavel, as well as former diplomatic advisor to the president of Italy Stefano Stefanini. The three will sit with President Tsai Ing-wen on Tuesday. They’ll also hold meetings with the relevant government agencies and think tanks on security and trade in the Indo-Pacific. They are also expected to conduct deep exchanges on the relationship between Taiwan, the U.S. and Europe.

Arthur Ding
NCCU Graduate Institute of Asian Studies
In the past, the Atlantic Council mainly concerned itself with the European continent. But it’s shifted its attention to the Asia-Pacific region, and especially to the Indo-Pacific as it has gradually become the focus of international politics.

Esper previously participated in the Gulf War and was vice president for governmental relations at Raytheon, a major U.S. defense contractor. He later joined the Trump administration as secretary of defense and was a big supporter of providing Taiwan with defensive weapons. That was until 2020, when then-U.S. President Donald Trump fired him over Twitter. After leaving his post, he has become even more involved in countering China and supporting Taiwan.

Mark Esper (June 22)
Former US secretary of defense
In many ways the “one China” policy has outlived its usefulness. I think Joe Biden’s instincts are spot on. He’s said three times, right now, we would support them (Taiwan) militarily. I think it was a very clear statement, and I don’t know why the White House keeps walking back on this.

Esper called on Biden to reevaluate the U.S.’ “one China” policy. He says that amid the soaring danger of a Chinese invasion of Taiwan, the U.S. should shift to a “strategic clarity” on the issue. He has said that if an emergency were to happen in Taiwan, neighboring countries such as Japan and South Korea would be unable to remain uninvolved. He has urged the U.S. to strengthen its cooperation with its Indo-Pacific allies to counter China’s growing threat.

Wang Ting-yu
DPP lawmaker
Esper has long advocated for Taiwan’’s security and stability, saying that it is the foundation of peace in the first island chain. For Taiwan, his visit is another opportunity to gain visibility on the international stage and for direct communication. It is an opportunity to strengthen the security, peace and stability of the Taiwan Strait.

DPP lawmaker Wang Ting-yu says Esper’s visit could be motivated by his desire to gain a better understanding of the cross-strait situation. In any case, it is sure to be a way for Taiwan to remain part of public discourse in the U.S.