WASHINGTON: The United States (US) announced a $345 million military assistance package for Taiwan on Friday, in a move certain to anger Beijing at a time of tense ties between the US and China.
In a statement, the White House said the package of “defense articles and services of the Department of Defense, and military education and training, will provide help to Taiwan.”
Washington Announces $345 Million Defense Aid Package for Taiwan
Before the announcement, the two U.S. officials told AP on the condition of anonymity that the US will send man-portable air defense systems, firearms, intelligence and surveillance capabilities, and missiles.
AP reported that the US legislators have been pressuring the White House and Pentagon to speed weapons to Taiwan. Reuters reported this month the top US military general said Washington and its allies need to speed up the delivery of arms to Taiwan in the coming years to assist the island to defend itself.
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China has repeatedly demanded Washington, Taiwan’s most important weapons supplier, stop the sale of arms to the island. Beijing has blamed Washington of turning Taiwan into a “powder keg” through the billions of dollars in arms sales it has promised.
