US First to Proactively Release Joint Training Photos of Taiwan Coast Guard and US Coast Guard – Hidden Meaning in AIT Post

Taiwan and the United States have long maintained behind-the-scenes military exchanges—an 'open secret.' However, on the 28th, the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) made a groundbreaking move by posting on Facebook photos showing the 4,000-ton Chiayi-class patrol vessel Taipei Ship (CG5005) sailing in formation with the US Coast Guard's Legend-class cutter USCGC Midgett (WMSL-757).

In its Facebook post, AIT stated that as typhoon season approaches, the US Coast Guard and Taiwan's Coast Guard Administration are closely coordinating on multiple maritime objectives, including search and rescue, tropical storm preparedness, disaster relief, marine resource conservation, combating illegal fishing, and intercepting maritime drug smuggling. The US expressed gratitude for Taiwan's partnership in maritime security and reaffirmed its ongoing support for Taiwan's substantive contributions to global issues, including maritime law enforcement exchanges and international cooperation.

In fact, this is the first time the US side has proactively released photos of joint training between the US Coast Guard and Taiwan's Coast Guard Administration. This signifies that US-Taiwan security cooperation has moved directly from an 'open secret' into the open, highlighting the high level of recognition the US now gives to Taiwan's contributions to maritime law enforcement and maritime security within the First Island Chain in the Pacific.

This public disclosure goes beyond a simple training update—it represents a strategic signal in US policy toward Taiwan. Amid China's increasing military pressure around Taiwan, the US is using this visibility to underscore Taiwan's effective, non-military maritime capabilities, reinforcing its commitment to regional stability and a rules-based international order.

Meanwhile, experts warn of vulnerabilities in US readiness. Wind Media's exclusive reports highlight concerns: one expert points to a 'fatal weakness' in US capabilities if conflict erupts in the Taiwan Strait, suggesting China has already identified this. Another analysis questions the survivability of MQ-9B drones in the Taiwan context, noting over 20 such drones have crashed in the Middle East under US operations. Additionally, Bloomberg reports that in the event of a Taiwan Strait conflict, the European Union would suffer the greatest economic damage—twice the impact felt by either the US or China.