Taiwan’s Foreign Minister Joseph Wu (???) will discuss virtually next Wednesday issues related to the Indo-Pacific region and the growing threat of China with former United States Secretary of Defense Mark Esper, according to the event organizer.

The event, scheduled to be held on Feb. 23 at midnight Taipei time, will be the sixth of a series of public conversations between Esper and experts on various issues related to challenges and threats to U.S. national security, said the Washington-based think tank, McCain Institute for International Leadership.

The discussions focus in particular on how the U.S.’ Indo-Pacific security partnerships would address pressing challenges in the region, such as a rising China, increasing international authoritarianism, and the spread of disinformation, the institute said, noting that the Indo-Pacific region has become a top foreign policy priority for the Biden administration.

Esper previously served as the U.S. Secretary of the Army and acting defense secretary before he assumed the role as the chief of the Pentagon in July 2019. He served in that capacity until he was fired abruptly by then President Donald Trump in November 2020, having been reportedly at odds with Trump over several issues.

He is currently a distinguished fellow at the McCain Institute for International Leadership.

Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel