US officials wary of possible Taiwan-China cooperation in South China Sea

Fishing boats navigate the South China Sea

While US defense officials encourage the peaceful development of relations in the Taiwan Strait, in private some fear cooperation could go too far 

Although US defense officials welcome recent efforts to improve relations across the Taiwan Strait, some are starting to show a high degree of concern about possible cooperation between Taiwan and China on South China Sea disputes, Taiwanese academics say. 

At the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore last weekend, US Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta said Washington strongly supports the efforts that Taiwan and China have made in recent years to improve cross-strait relations. 

While Panetta strongly encouraged further development in that direction, in more quiet settings, US officials are reportedly expressing reservations about possible cooperation between Taiwan and China on military issues, including South China Sea disputes and an eventual mutual-trust mechanism. 

My article, published today in the Taipei Times, continues here.