Taiwan has revealed details of military cooperation with the United States that had previously remained out of public view. According to the island’s defense minister, Wellington Koo, Washington is sharing practical combat experience with Taipei and helping it prepare for a possible confrontation with China. His remarks were reported by The Wall Street Journal.

Koo said the partnership extends far beyond the arms deliveries that usually attract public attention. It also includes military exchanges through which Taiwanese forces have gained a substantial amount of applied knowledge and operational experience from the United States.

At the same time, the defense minister stressed that Taiwan’s plans for a potential conflict with China do not envisage direct participation by US troops. The Pentagon and the US Indo-Pacific Command declined to comment on Taipei’s statements.

In late March, Taiwan received the final batch of 108 Abrams tanks ordered by the island’s authorities. The vehicles represent only a small part of the resources Taipei plans to use to defend against what it describes as a possible Chinese invasion.

Officials on the island believe an attack could take place within the next one or two years. Against that backdrop, residents are preparing for a large-scale conflict by buying weapons and equipping bomb shelters.