On Sunday, the Chinese government issued a strong objection to the recent announcements from the U.S. regarding military sales and support to Taiwan, warning the United States that it is “playing with fire.”
President Joe Biden gave the green light yesterday for the transfer of up to $571 million in Defense Department materials, services, and military education and training to Taiwan. Additionally, the U.S. Defense Department confirmed on Friday that it had approved $295 million in military sales.
A statement from China’s Foreign Ministry urged the United States to cease its arms support to Taiwan, criticizing the U.S. for taking “dangerous actions that destabilize peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.”
Taiwan is an independent, democratic island home to 23 million people, which China claims as part of its territory and insists must eventually be governed by Beijing. U.S. military aid and support are intended to bolster Taiwan’s defense capabilities and deter any potential Chinese military aggression.
The $571 million in military assistance is in addition to an earlier $567 million in aid authorized by President Biden in late September for similar purposes. The military sales include $265 million for roughly 300 tactical radio systems and $30 million for 16 gun mounts.
Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry expressed its gratitude for the approval of the two military sales, posting on X that it reinforced the U.S. government’s “commitment to our defense.”
{Matzav.com}
