US to offer $345m in military aid to Taiwan

The United States will give Taiwan $345 million in military aid. Taiwan is using Ukraine as a model as they prepare for possible Chinese aggression. China has simulated an attack on key Taiwanese targets

China’s foreign minister has warned the United States not to cross its “red line” with “bullying” tactics. China claims it drove off a US naval cruiser near the Spratly Islands. China has warned of a potential arms race after learning that the US was sending nuclear-capable bombers to Australia.

President Biden has said that the United States would defend Taiwan if China invaded. China has been simulating attacking United States ships, according to Taiwan.

Taiwan shot down a Chinese drone; yesterday, Taiwan fired on a Chinese drone that invaded its airspace. More than 50 Chinese warplanes and 6 warships have been spotted near Taiwan. Chinese aircraft have entered Taiwanese airspace yet again. Just two weeks ago, Taiwan scrambled jets as 22 Chinese aircraft invade Taiwanese airspace. Australia’s defence minister has said that China’s military buildup is the “most ambitious” since WWII and could endanger geopolitical stability. China has launched an AI-piloted, unmanned naval ship capable of carrying and launching dozens of drones.

Taiwan has deployed advanced, fourth-generation fighter jets in a show of force to stand up to China. China has fifth-generation fighter jets, but so does the United States, which has backing from Taiwan. The president of Taiwan has said that the threat from China is increasing every day, and she has confirmed that there are US military trainers assisting the Taiwanese.

Last week, Chinese President Xi Jinping vowed to achieve a “peaceful reunification” with Taiwan, despite the threatening presence of Chinese fighters in Taiwanese airspace over the past months. In response, the Taiwanese president has vowed to defend Taiwan’s sovereignty. Biden has sided with China as tensions heat up between China and Taiwan, reiterating that the U.S. will abide by the “one China” policy––meaning the US will follow the Chinese assertion that Taiwan is its territory.

Taiwan has recorded a record number of Chinese jets in its airspace. This past summer, Chinese jets entered Taiwanese airspace multiple times. In June, China sent a massive force of 28 aircraft into Taiwanese airspace, including nuclear-capable bombers, the largest and most threatening show of force yet.

The Chinese government, angered by recent developments between the U.S. and Taiwan, has warned the U.S. State Department to “stop all forms” of official outreach to Taiwan. This might signal a warming of tensions, considering that a few months ago China was threatening to fly fighter jets over Taiwan if U.S.-Taiwan relations continued to warm. China also threatened “all-out war” if Taiwan fires on the jets. At that same time, Taiwan reported the most significant incursion by the Chinese air force yet.

The United States said it would defend Taiwan in the face of Chinese incursions into Taiwanese airspace a few months ago. China sent more fighter jets into Taiwanese air space, escalating their show of force. Taiwan threatened to shoot down the Chinese drones in its airspace if they get too close to the Taiwanese-controlled Pratas Islands.

Chinese drones were spotted gathering intelligence around Taiwan, according to the Taiwanese coast guard. Eleven Chinese warplanes flew into Taiwanese airspace on Monday, part of China’s rising imperial aspirations. Earlier this month, China, as part of its usual change-of-presidency bellicosity, warned the United States against interfering with China’s designs on Taiwan. Earlier this year, China called Taiwan an “insurmountable red line.”