U.S. hands over arms to Taiwan for the first time

Taiwanese F-16V fighter jets taxi during military exercise Photo: Richie Tongo/Shutterstock

The US announced a $345 military aid package million dollars for Taiwan, marking the first time it has sent weapons directly to Taipei.

The White House said the package would include defense, education and training for Taiwanese, and receiving weapons from US stockpiles.

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The package is designed to help Taiwan resist China. Washington hopes to provide Taipei with enough weapons for self-defense that the cost of any invasion would be too high.

According to CNN, Lieutenant Colonel Martin Meiners, a Pentagon spokesman, the aid «includes self-defense capabilities that Taiwan can … bolster deterrence now and in the future.»

US Supports One China Policy , according to which Taiwan is not recognized as an independent country and does not have official diplomatic relations with the island out of respect for Beijing.

However, US law requires strong defense of Taiwan, and the US will treat all threats to the island as matters of «grave concern.»

The assistance is part of a presidential mandate approved by Congress last year to obtain weapons from current US military stockpiles, meaning Taiwan doesn't have to wait for military production and sales to begin.

Soldiers participate in military exercises simulating anti-amphibious operations off the coast in New Taipei City, northern Taiwan. Photo: ChiangYing-ying/AP

This allows faster delivery of weapons than financing new weapons.

The Pentagon has used similar authority to deliver billions of dollars worth of munitions to Ukraine.

This package is in addition to almost $19 billion in military sales F- 16 and other major weapons systems that the US has approved for Taiwan.

Lt. Col. Meiners said the type of equipment Taiwan will need for self-defense will be constantly reviewed.

«Clearly, the US has not changed its policy on Taiwan,» CNN reported. He added, «We are committed to the One China Policy [and] the Taiwan Relations Act.»

Earlier this year, Kathleen Hicks, the Pentagon's deputy secretary of defense, told the Associated Press that receiving arms stockpiles for Taiwan now, before the attack begins is one of the lessons the US learned from the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

“Stop selling arms to Taiwan,”

Liu Pengyu, a spokesman for the Chinese Embassy in Washington, said that Beijing is “strongly opposed to » US military ties with Taiwan.

The US should «stop arms sales to Taiwan» and «stop creating new factors that could lead to tension in the Taiwan Strait,» Mr. Liu, Taiwan's representative to the US said. cooperate with the United States to maintain «peace, stability and the status quo in the Taiwan Strait.»

Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense thanked «the United States for its firm commitment to Taiwan's security.»