US Working on Fast-Track Defense Package for Taiwan Amidst Criticism from China
(MENAFN) Bloomberg recently reported that the United States is currently working on a new fast-track defense package for Taiwan. The government is said to be using the Presidential Drawdown Authority to expedite the shipment, a method that has been used in the past to support Kiev, but not Taipei. The package is worth a reported USD500 million and will draw from the American military's existing stockpiles of weapons and equipment. The exact composition of the shipment remains unknown at this time.
The use of the drawdown authority will allow the United States to bypass the process of contracting and producing arms, which is likely to be a time-consuming process. According to anonymous sources cited by Bloomberg, this move will enable the United States to expedite the delivery of much-needed defense equipment to Taiwan.
However, China has strongly criticized the United States’ actions, with a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry accusing the United States of "turning Taiwan into a powder keg." China considers Taiwan to be an inalienable part of its territory, seized by separatists. Beijing has urged the US to "stop arms sales" to Taiwan and has warned of "consequences" should the United States continue to pursue this course of action.
The situation is likely to increase tensions between the United States and China, as well as between China and Taiwan. The United States has long been a supporter of Taiwan, and the current move is seen as a further indication of the United States’ commitment to the island's defense. However, it remains to be seen how China will respond to the United States’ actions, and what impact this will have on the ongoing tensions between the two global powers.
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