BEIJING – China has lodged serious protests with the United States following the recent announcement of military assistance and arms sales to Taiwan, calling the actions ‘dangerous moves’ and urging Washington to cease its support of Taipei’s independence ambitions. The condemnation follows U.S. President Joe Biden’s authorization on Friday of military aid worth $571.3 million and additional sales estimated at $295 million.
The military partnership between the U.S. and Taiwan has continued to deepen, with the latest aid package aimed at enhancing Taiwan's self-defense capabilities amid rising tensions with Beijing. The funds, as noted by the White House, comprise support for defense articles, services, and military training, underscoring Taiwan’s strategic importance to U.S. interests in the Indo-Pacific region.
“China strongly deplores and firmly opposes these U.S. moves,” stated the Chinese Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson during a briefing on Sunday. The official emphasized, “This decision is not just alarming but also constitutes a serious breach of the commitments made by U.S. leaders to not support ‘Taiwan independence.’ It sends gravely wrong signals to separatist forces.”
Bolstering these comments, Zhu Fenglian, the spokeswoman for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, reinforced China’s perspective, attributing the greatest threat to peace and stability to foreign interference and separatist actions by the Taiwanese government. Zhu called on the U.S. to treat the Taiwan issue with caution and warned, “We require the U.S. to immediately stop arming Taiwan.”
The recent military assistance and arms sales are part of broader efforts by the Biden administration, which has been increasingly supportive of Taiwan over the past few years, including significant military deals announced earlier this year. This trend reflects the U.S. stance on deterring potential aggression by China, which has ramped up military posturing around the self-ruled island.
China’s reaction to U.S. military aid is steeped in historical and territorial concerns. The country sees Taiwan as part of its territory and considers any military support for the island as direct interference with its internal affairs. The Foreign Ministry reiterated, “To aid ‘Taiwan independence’ by arming Taiwan is like playing with fire and will get the U.S. burned.”
Beijing has invoked the one-China principle, which asserts there is only one China with Taiwan being part of it, highlighting the violation of previous commitments made by the U.S. government, including the three China-U.S. joint communiqués, explicitly stating its opposition to Taiwan’s independence.
China has expressed its commitment to countering what it views as increasing foreign provocations. Earlier this month, it already took measures by sanctioning 13 U.S. military companies and six senior executives as a form of backlash against the weapons sales to Taiwan. This latest protest against U.S. military support suggests China is considerably ramping up its rhetoric and actions against perceived threats.
The U.S. response to increasing military tensions has included regular arms transactions with Taiwan. Earlier announcements indicated Taiwan received advanced Abrams battle tanks for the first time in over 30 years, intensifying military preparedness on the island.
China’s concerns are heightened by frequent aerial incursions and naval exercises near Taiwan. Just recently, Taiwan defense officials reported increased activities by Chinese naval vessels and military aircraft, which raised alarms of possible military conflict. The Taiwanese government is adamant about its right to self-defense and welcomes U.S. support, framing it as bolstering democratic governance against authoritarian pressures.
“It is not just arms but also reassurance,” pursued Taiwan’s foreign ministry, emphasizing the significance of U.S. support for maintaining peace and stability amid regional tensions.
Wu Qian, spokesperson for China’s Ministry of National Defense, reiterated the importance of the Taiwan question as the foremost red line between the U.S. and China, stating, “Any attempts to use the Taiwan question to contain China are doomed to fail.”
Despite the mounting rhetoric, the U.S. maintains its position of strategic ambiguity concerning Taiwan, officially avoiding any diplomatic ties yet supporting Taipei through military and logistical means. This duality highlights the complexity of maintaining regional stability without directly provoking China’s sensitivities.
The situation continues to evolve, raising questions about the future dynamics between U.S., China, and Taiwan as each party navigates its strategic interests.
