Taipei city view at elephant mountain, Taipei Taiwan
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Report: US Troops Secretly in Taiwan, China Warning, US Sub Strikes Object

China has warned the US after a report emerged of American troops in Taiwan for over a year helping the island prepare its defenses. Also, the USS Connecticut strikes an unknown object in the China Sea; numerous sailors were injured.

Report: US troops secretly in Taiwan over a year helping island prepare its defenses

US military forces have been secretly helping train Taiwan’s military and defenses for over a year in preparing the island for a potential war with communist China, according to a newly released report from the Wall Street Journal.

“About two dozen members of U.S. special-operations and support troops are conducting training for small units of Taiwan’s ground forces,” the Journal reported. “The U.S. Marines are working with local maritime forces on small-boat training. The American forces have been operating in Taiwan for at least a year.”

China ramping up military aggression toward Taiwan

This comes after China has significantly increased its military posturing toward Taiwan, the Daily Wire reported.

Last Saturday, 39 aircraft from the Chinese military, including fighter jets and transport aircraft, entered Taiwan’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ). On Monday, China again entered Taiwan’s ADIZ, this time with 56 aircraft. In both instances, the Taiwanese Air Force scrambled jets and deployed air defense missiles to monitor the aircraft, CNN reported.

The Washington Post reported that China has sent 150 aircraft into Taiwan’s airspace within the past week.

China warns US after report emerges about military forces operating in Taiwan

On Friday, China warned the US by reiterating calls for America to remove its military ties with Taiwan, following the emergence of a report that US Marines have been stationed on the island for a year helping the nation strengthen its defenses against intensifying Chinese aggression, Washington Post reported.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said the United States should recognize the “high sensitivity” of the issue and halt military contact with Taiwan.

“China will take all necessary measures to protect its sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Zhao said.

China claims Taiwan is part of its sovereign territory and has threatened to take control of the island by force if the government there formally declares independence.

US submarine strikes unknown object in South China Sea, sailors injured

The USS Connecticut, a nuclear-powered submarine, struck an unknown underwater object in international waters in the South China Sea last Saturday, two US defense officials anonymously reported to the media, which was reported on Friday.

Despite the collision, the submarine remained “fully operational,” but that 11 sailors had been injured, which were classified as “moderate,” with all receiving treatment aboard the submarine, the Associated Press reported.

Where the incident took place was not revealed, and the officials said the vessel was conducting routine operations. The U.S. Navy did not make the news public before Thursday in order to maintain operational security, the BBC reported.

The US and its allies have been carrying out training operations and a multinational show of force in the region. CNN reported the naval operations have been led by the United Kingdom’s Carrier Strike Group 21. The ongoing operations saw exercises with ships from the US, UK, Japan, Australia, Canada, and the Netherlands, including three aircraft carriers, training in and around the South China Sea.