US President Joe Biden has approved $571 million in military aid to Taiwan, which is under increased Chinese military pressure, the White House announced on Friday.
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A month before his departure from the White House, the outgoing president asked Secretary of State Antony Blinken to allow the sending of “ items and services » military in order to “ provide assistance to Taiwan », Specified the White House in a press release. No other details have been made public about this new envelope. In September, Joe Biden had already approved aid of $567 million.
Washington has long been Taipei’s most important ally and largest arms supplier, angering Beijing, which claims Taiwan as part of its territory. Without giving further details on the additional aid granted, the Taiwanese Ministry of Defense thanked the United States for “ its firm security commitment to Taiwan “.
Beijing has intensified military and political pressure on Taipei in recent years, regularly sending warships and fighter planes around Taiwan. Taipei said last week that China had carried out a massive naval deployment near its waters, involving nearly 90 ships. This deployment, the largest in years, has not been confirmed by Beijing.
Over the past five decades, the United States has sold billions of dollars worth of military equipment and munitions to Taiwan, including F-16 fighter jets and warships. The United States historically maintains a policy of “strategic ambiguity” regarding possible U.S. military intervention if Taiwan were attacked by China.
Donald Trump, who will be inaugurated on January 20, has appointed several figures known for their critical positions against China to his new administration. During the presidential campaign, the Republican, however, cast doubt on his support for Taipei by asserting that Taiwan “ should pay » the United States in its defense.
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