The U.S. government has approved $567 million in defense support for Taiwan, reinforcing the island’s military in the face of growing tensions with China. While the U.S. lacks formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan, it remains the island's main supplier of arms. China, which claims Taiwan as its territory, has consistently urged the U.S. to stop these sales.
President Joe Biden authorized the defense aid, delegating the Secretary of State to oversee the drawdown of defense equipment, services, and military education to support Taiwan. This aid follows an earlier bill signed by Biden in April, which provided billions in U.S. assistance for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan.
Taiwan has raised concerns over delays in receiving U.S. arms, including upgraded fighter jets, as the threat from China escalates. Over the past five years, China has increased its military and political pressure on Taiwan, which firmly rejects Beijing's territorial claims.
Recently, Taiwan has been on heightened alert after detecting waves of missile firings deep within China. Taiwan’s defense ministry reported detecting missile launches in provinces such as Inner Mongolia, Gansu, and Xinjiang—regions located over 2,000 kilometers from Taiwan. In response, Taiwan’s air defense forces have maintained high vigilance.
China continues to assert its military strength, recently testing an intercontinental ballistic missile. Taiwan has also noted a surge in Chinese military activities around its airspace and waters. Beijing has defended its actions, stating that its military drills are legitimate and that it will continue to strengthen combat readiness.
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