There are problems in the Taiwan Strait because China doesn’t like the idea of the US giving Taiwan military help.
- Biden agreed to give Taiwan millions of dollars in help and arms.
- China says that U.S. actions are risking the security of the area.
What We Know So Far
China has been very angry about the latest U.S. weapons sales and help to Taiwan, which shows that tensions are still high in the Taiwan Strait.
U.S. President Joe Biden gave Taiwan $571 million for goods, services, and military training from the Defense Department on Saturday.
This comes after a different deal of military sales worth $295 million was announced on Friday.
China’s Foreign Ministry immediately criticized the action and urged the US to stop “arming Taiwan,” as well as cautioned against taking any actions that might endanger regional peace and security.
China says that Taiwan, an island with 23 million people and a democracy, is part of its property. The United States, on the other hand, backs Taiwan’s right to protect itself.
Putting the Deals Together
A deal of $571 million in aid comes just a few weeks after Biden approved another $567 million in aid in late September. These are the military sales:
- $265 million for 300 radios for military use.
- 16 gun racks for $30 million.
The Foreign Ministry of Taiwan praised the move and said that the U.S. would continue to support Taiwan’s security.
Why does this matter?
Tensions over Taiwan keep rising as the U.S. provides more help, even though China doesn’t like it. This brings up an important question:
What effect will these acts have on the relationship between the US and China?
- It signals to the US that it is risking its reputation when dealing with Taiwan.
- Taiwan thinks the help is very important for its safety and independence.
An ongoing act of balancing
The Taiwan Strait is still one of the most tense parts of diplomatic relations between the US and China.
Even though the U.S. doesn’t officially recognize Taiwan as a different country, it continues to put defense first as a way to keep Beijing from attacking.
With China’s armed threats against Taiwan getting stronger, the world is closely watching for any changes in policy or action.
In this very important strategic area, both sides seem to be constantly pushing each other to their limits.