In the US, military aid to Taiwan, which is under Chinese pressure, is taking shape. The US State Department on Friday (local time) approved the delivery of military equipment worth $1.1 billion, including 60 anti-ship missiles and 100 anti-aircraft missiles.
Chinese Embassy spokesman Liu Pengyu warned that the planned aid would seriously jeopardize bilateral relations and stability in the region. Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden, struggling for influence in the Pacific region, has canceled a summit meeting with representatives of island states for the end of September.
“As the People’s Republic of China increases pressure on Taiwan (…) and seeks to change the status quo in the Taiwan Strait, we provide Taiwan with what it needs to maintain its self-defense capabilities,” said the for China and Taiwan Assistant Secretary at the White House, Laura Rosenberger. The approval of the US Congress on arms exports is considered certain.
At the beginning of August, China reacted to the visit of the President of the US House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, to Taiwan with a large-scale military maneuver. In return, the USA allowed two cruisers to pass through the straits in front of the island. China regards Taiwan as its territory and has not ruled out the use of force to regain control of the island.
The US government has invited twelve states to the island summit in Washington. This includes the Solomon Islands in the South Pacific.
