On Sunday, President Joe Biden greenlit a substantial $567 million defense package for Taiwan, as tensions rise with China increasing its political and military pressure on the self-governing island.
Although the U.S. does not officially recognize Taiwan, it remains a crucial ally and significant arms supplier for the region, a point of contention for Beijing, which has consistently urged Washington to cease military support for Taiwan, claiming it as part of its territory.
The White House announced that Biden has instructed the Secretary of State to manage the release of this defense funding, which encompasses military equipment, services, and training. This new package is nearly double the $345 million in defense assistance approved in July of the previous year.
Earlier in April, the U.S. committed billions in military aid to Taiwan in response to China’s increasingly aggressive posture. Beijing has frequently voiced its displeasure over international support for Taiwan, accusing the U.S. of interference.
With a daily presence of fighter jets, drones, and warships around Taiwan, China has stated that it will not rule out using force to assert control over the island, intensifying its rhetoric about “inevitable unification.”
In response to the new U.S. defense assistance, China’s foreign ministry issued a warning on Monday, stating that military support for Taiwan would “backfire.” Spokesman Lin Jian emphasized that the U.S. should “stop arming Taiwan in any form,” cautioning that such actions would only lead to negative repercussions for Washington.
