OREANDA-NEWS The United States provides full support in the defense of Taiwan from China and uses all possible directions, including training troops. This was stated by General Wellington Ku, Secretary of the National Security Council under the President of Taiwan Tsai Ing-wen, the Financial Times (FT) reports.

"Relations on these security issues are very close, but we must behave with restraint. I can only say that they are using all possible ways to help us, whether it is training or building up asymmetric combat capabilities," the politician said.

The publication notes that such statements by the Taiwanese side are very rare, since earlier the island authorities denied US cooperation in the defense sphere. However, the island's authorities are afraid of weakening support from Washington in case of attempts to improve relations with Beijing.

Similar sentiments are growing in connection with the upcoming presidential elections to be held on the island in January next year. The current favorite of the race, Vice President of Taiwan Lai Qingde, is already being called a "separatist" in China, subjecting him to sharp criticism.

Earlier, Chinese Ambassador to Vienna Qi Mei said that Beijing hopes for the peaceful reunification of Taiwan with mainland China, but does not rule out the possibility of using force in solving the island problem as a last option. She confirmed that Taiwan is a stumbling block between China and the United States. At the same time, the Ambassador insisted that the island is a Chinese province.