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| Chinese leader Xi Jinping walks past a military honor guard outside Beijing's Great Hall of the People in July 2019. | AFP-JIJI |
China's claim to the democratically self-ruled island is causing grave difficulties with the US in an increasingly antagonistic relationship. This has included a Chinese surveillance balloon violating airspace, America warning Beijing about potentially providing weapons to Russia, and a renewed focus on China's obstruction of inquiries into the origins of COVID-19.
Notwithstanding China's claim that Taiwan is an inalienable part of the mainland, Washington has yet to publicly recognize Taipei as an independent country. The Biden administration cleared $619 million in future military sales to Taiwan on Wednesday, including hundreds of F-16 fighter aircraft missiles and accompanying equipment. This is in addition to the $5 billion in projected armament sales since January 20, 2021.
According to The Hills, State Department official said the potential arms sales are consistent with U.S. law, which includes the Taiwan Relations Act, and in line with the “longstanding One-China policy.”
“The United States makes available to Taiwan defense articles and services necessary to enable it to maintain a sufficient self-defense capability,” the official said.
“The United States’ support to Taiwan and steps Taiwan takes to enhance its self-defense capabilities contribute to the maintenance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and within the region.”
