According to the White House, US President Joe Biden approved $567 million in defense aid for Taiwan on Sunday, as China increases its diplomatic and military pressure on the independent island.
Although Taipei does not have diplomatic recognition from the US, Washington is Taipei’s main ally and arms supplier, which worries Beijing, which has demanded that Washington cease equipping the island that it believes is a part of its territory.
The secretary of state has been given authority by Biden “to direct the drawdown of up to $567 million in defense articles and services of the Department of Defense, and military education and training, to provide assistance to Taiwan,” according to a brief statement released by the White House.
The package, which is almost twice as large as the $345 million in defense support that was authorized in July of last year, was not described in detail.
In response to China’s growing assertiveness, the US authorized billions of dollars in military aid for Taiwan in April of this year.
Beijing has frequently expressed its displeasure with international backing for Taipei and charged Washington with interfering with its internal affairs.
China has fighter jets, drones, and warships circling the island almost nonstop.
Beijing has said it will never renounce the use of force to bring Taiwan under its control, and has also stepped up rhetoric about “unification” being “inevitable.”
Asked about the new defense assistance on Monday, China’s foreign ministry warned the US that arming Taiwan would “backfire.”
Spokesman Lin Jian said Beijing urged Washington to “stop arming Taiwan in any form.”
“The US’s insistence on supporting Taiwan independence with weapons will only backfire and lead to self-inflicted consequences,” Lin said.