China accuses US of using Taiwan as a weapons store, but won’t be deterred in reunification efforts.

China Accuses U.S. of Turning Taiwan into an “Ammunition Depot”

China ​is accusing the United States of turning Taiwan into an “ammunition depot” days after the⁢ White House announced ‌a $345 million aid package to ⁢the island nation.

Increasing the Threat ‍of War

In a statement, China said it is committed to “reunification” with Taiwan and opposed the American ⁤aid package. The communist nation claimed the recent actions ‍by the U.S. have been⁢ increasing the “threat of war” in the⁤ region by turning Taiwan into a “powder‍ keg,” an​ accusation it has repeatedly levied against America in recent months.

China’s Firm Stance

“No matter how much of the ordinary people’s taxpayer money the … ⁢Taiwanese separatist forces spend, no‍ matter how many U.S. weapons, it will⁤ not shake our resolve to solve the Taiwan problem. Or shake our firm will to realize the ⁢reunification of our motherland,” China’s Taiwan Affairs Office spokesman Chen Binhua ⁢ said.

“Their actions are‌ turning Taiwan⁣ into a powder​ keg and ​ammunition depot, aggravating the threat of war in the ⁢Taiwan Strait,” he added.

Biden Administration’s Aid Package

The Biden ⁢administration’s aid package to Taiwan, which was officially ‌announced on Friday,⁣ includes defense, training, and ​education, according to the Associated Press. Two American officials told the outlet ‍the U.S. would send firearms and missiles,⁤ man-portable air defense systems, and intelligence ‍capabilities.

The aid package is significant because it includes equipment ⁢taken from⁤ American stockpiles instead of making Taiwan wait for production. This is the first time ⁤the ⁣Biden administration has done that, the AP notes. The aid package was ​able to rely on U.S. stockpiles ⁢because of a presidential drawdown authority approved by Congress ⁣last year.

Pressure and Response

Lawmakers have reportedly been pressuring ⁣Biden and the Pentagon to ⁣send weapons and equipment to Taiwan ​to help deter an attack from China, a goal Beijing appears to‌ have responded to in its statement.

Gratitude and ‍Commitment

Taiwan thanked the U.S. for its “firm security commitment,”⁤ while Pentagon spokesman⁣ Lt. Col. Martin Meiners ‍said‌ the aid⁢ would​ “bolster deterrence now and in the future.”

U.S. Policy on Taiwan

“Obviously the US has not changed our policy on Taiwan,” Meiners⁤ said, confirming that ‍the U.S. is “committed” to the ⁤“One China” ⁤policy Washington holds, in addition‍ to the Taiwan Relations Act.

Taiwan, officially the ​Republic of China, has been independently governed since 1949. China’s One China policy asserts that Taiwan is a part of‌ China. The United States doesn’t recognize Taiwan’s formal independence and instead has diplomatic relations with Beijing.

Defensive Arms and Status Quo

While adhering to a “One China” policy, under the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act, the‍ U.S. has vowed “to provide Taiwan with arms of⁢ a defensive character.” ⁣Additionally, the U.S. State​ Department’s official policy on Taiwan opposes “any unilateral changes to the status quo from either ​side.”

Provocations and Drills

In the past year, China‍ has repeatedly provoked Taiwan,​ including after Taiwan’s president, Tsai ‍Ing-wen, met with U.S. House Speaker Kevin ​McCarthy in California in April. After⁢ that‍ meeting, three days of drills ‌were conducted by China’s People’s Liberation Army, including performing an “encirclement” rehearsal of ⁢Taiwan.

Last week, Taiwan conducted annual drills to repel an invasion from China, and ⁤for the first time,​ the self-governing⁤ island rehearsed an anti-takeover ​training at Taoyuan International Airport.

*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases