PTI, WASHINGTON : The US is increasingly distrustful of Beijing 's long-term intentions towards Taiwan and is bolstering Taiwan 's ability to defend itself against China , media reported on Thursday.
The Bush administration has quietly embarked on an ambitious effort to restructure Taiwan 's military, acknowledging that it is a major departure from longstanding US policy of limiting military relations with Taiwan to avoid a confrontation with China , The Washington Post reported.
Taiwan is flinching at the huge costs and the re-organisation of the military that would involve but it is going ahead all the same.
The change in US administration's policy is described as “a crash course” intended to help Taiwan keep up with China 's rapid military modernisation and avoid being bullied by Beijing if bilateral talks resume.
It is timed, said the Post , at providing more advanced weapons for Taiwan 's military and improving command and control, strategy and force planning, communications and the ability of the island's armed forces for joint operations.
US military representatives, once almost completely banned from visiting Taiwan are currently involved in dozens of programmes on the island, including training in the field.
US officials are advising Taiwan 's military at all levels of policy, implementation and training, US and Taiwanese officials told the paper.
The US and Taiwanese militaries have established a hotline to communicate in case of an emergency, a US official and a senior Taiwanese diplomat said.
