ON Friday, the White House announced that the United States will be providing a military aid package worth $345 million for Taiwan.
The package is part of the 2023 budget approved in Congress last year which allows up to $1-B in weapons aid for the Asian country under the presidential drawdown authority.
This will be the first that the US is sending a military aid package coming from its existing military stockpiles instead of purchases through the Foreign Military Sales program.
Specific details on exactly what weapons will be included in the package have not been disclosed to the public, however, reports say it is expected to include 4 general atomics MQ-9 reaper drones, Man-Portable Air-Defense Systems (MANPADS), firearms, missiles, as well as education and training for Taiwanese soldiers.
Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense expressed its appreciation early on Saturday, thanking ‘the US for its firm commitment to Taiwan’s security’.
But the said move is sure to anger China as the goal of the military aid package is to help Taipei counter Beijing.
“To cooperate with China, any country should respect the One China Principle–a basic when dealing with China,” these were the words of CGTN’s Chinese correspondent during her live report on SMNI News’ ‘Newsline World’ program on Wednesday, July 19.
It can be recalled that earlier this week, Taiwan staged its first-ever military drill called the Han Kuang exercises at Taoyuan International Airport–a drill that prepares Taiwan in the event of a so-called attack by Chinese forces.
In 1972, the US made a solemn commitment in the Shanghai communiqué to abide by the One China Policy but recent actions taken by the US seem to be sending a totally different message.
US Secretary of State Antony Bliken and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen recently visited China to mend the deteriorating relations between Washington and Beijing.
However, it’s safe to say that there have been little improvements made on this as of now.
