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China has strongly condemned the new $571 million US military aid package for Taiwan, saying it “seriously undermines China’s sovereignty and security interests”. China’s Foreign Ministry said it was “categorically opposed” to the decision, AFP reported.
The White House announced on Friday that it intends to provide Taiwan with $571 million worth of “military equipment and services,” another step in US support for Taipei amid China’s growing military pressure. The decision comes less than a month before the end of Joe Biden’s presidential term.
In September, President Biden already approved $567 million in military aid to Taiwan. In addition, the US State Department on Friday approved the sale of $295 million worth of military equipment to the island.
Chinese diplomats criticised these actions as a “violation of the principle of one China”, which is the basis of Sino-US relations.
Military and political tensions around Taiwan
The United States has historically been Taiwan’s largest ally and the island’s main arms supplier. This support has repeatedly angered Beijing, which considers Taiwan its territory.
In recent years, China has significantly increased its military and political pressure on Taiwan. Just last week, Taipei reported a “large-scale deployment” of Chinese naval forces near its waters. According to the Taiwanese side, the presence of about 90 ships was recorded.
Military pressure also includes regular patrols by Chinese fighter jets and warships near Taiwan.
American “strategic ambiguity”
Over the past half-century, the United States has provided Taiwan with billions of dollars in military equipment, including F-16 fighter jets and warships. However, Washington’s policy towards Taiwan remains “strategically ambiguous”, meaning that the US has not made a clear commitment to direct military intervention in the event of a Chinese attack on the island.
Nevertheless, the growth of US aid to Taiwan indicates a shift in emphasis in the geopolitical confrontation between the US and China.
