The United States has announced $345 million in military aid for Taiwan, in what is the Biden administration香蕉视频直播檚 first major package drawing on America香蕉视频直播檚 own stockpiles to .

The White House said Friday (July 28) the package would include defense, education and training for the Taiwanese. Washington will send man-portable air defense systems, or MANPADS, intelligence and surveillance capabilities, firearms and missiles, according to two U.S. officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters.

U.S. lawmakers have been pressuring the Pentagon and White House to speed weapons to Taiwan. The goals are to help it counter China and to deter China from considering attacking, by providing Taipei enough weaponry that it would make the price of invasion too high.

While Chinese diplomats protested the move, Taiwan香蕉视频直播檚 representative office in the U.S. said the administration香蕉视频直播檚 decision to pull arms and other materiel from its stores provided 香蕉视频直播渁n important tool to support Taiwan香蕉视频直播檚 self-defense.香蕉视频直播� In a statement, it pledged to work with the United States to maintain 香蕉视频直播減eace, stability and the status quo across the Taiwan Strait.香蕉视频直播�

Taiwan香蕉视频直播檚 Ministry of National Defense also expressed its appreciation in a statement that thanked 香蕉视频直播渢he U.S. for its firm commitment to Taiwan香蕉视频直播檚 security.香蕉视频直播�

The package is in addition to nearly of F-16s and other major weapons systems that the U.S. has approved for Taiwan. Delivery of those weapons has been hampered by supply chain issues that started during the COVID-19 pandemic and have been exacerbated by the global defense industrial base pressures created by Russia香蕉视频直播檚 invasion of Ukraine.

The difference is that this aid is part of a presidential authority approved by Congress last year to draw weapons from current U.S. military stockpiles 香蕉视频直播� so Taiwan will not have to wait for military production and sales. This gets weapons delivered faster than providing funding for new weapons.

The Pentagon has used a similar authority to get billions of dollars worth of munitions to Ukraine.

Taiwan split from China in 1949 amid civil war. Chinese President Xi Jinping maintains China香蕉视频直播檚 right to take over the now self-ruled island, by force if necessary. China has accused the U.S. of turning Taiwan into a 香蕉视频直播減owder keg香蕉视频直播� through the billions of dollars in weapons sales it has pledged.

The U.S. maintains a 香蕉视频直播淥ne China香蕉视频直播� policy under which it Taiwan香蕉视频直播檚 as an independent country and has no formal diplomatic relations with the island in deference to Beijing. However, U.S. law requires a credible defense for Taiwan and for the U.S. to treat all threats to the island as matters of 香蕉视频直播済rave concern.香蕉视频直播�

Getting stockpiles of weapons to Taiwan now, before an attack begins, is one of the lessons the U.S. has learned from Russia香蕉视频直播檚 invasion of Ukraine, Pentagon deputy defense secretary Kathleen Hicks told The Associated Press earlier this year.

Ukraine 香蕉视频直播渨as more of a cold-start approach than the planned approach we have been working on for Taiwan, and we will apply those lessons,香蕉视频直播� Hicks said. Efforts to resupply Taiwan after a conflict erupted would be complicated because it is an island, she said.

China regularly in the Taiwan Strait that provides a buffer between the sides, as well as into Taiwan香蕉视频直播檚 air defense identification zone, in an effort to intimidate the island香蕉视频直播檚 23 million people and wear down its military capabilities.

Liu Pengyu, a spokesman for the Chinese Embassy in Washington, said in a statement that Beijing was 香蕉视频直播渇irmly opposed香蕉视频直播� to U.S. military ties with Taiwan. The U.S. should 香蕉视频直播渟top selling arms to Taiwan香蕉视频直播� and 香蕉视频直播渟top creating new factors that could lead to tensions in the Taiwan Strait,香蕉视频直播� Liu said.

Nomaan Merchant, Ellen Knickmeyer, Zeke Miller And Tara Copp, The Associated Press

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