US-Taiwan Relations: China’s ‘Powder Keg’ Accusation
After the White House announced a $345 million military aid package for Taipei, China accused the United States of using Taiwan as a “powder keg and ammunition depot”. The self-governing island claimed Sunday that it had detected six Chinese navy ships in the waters off its coasts.
The Taiwan Affairs Office of China, which asserts Taiwan is its own territory, released a statement late on Saturday objecting to the military assistance to Taiwan. No amount of American armaments or tax paying citizens’ money spent by Taiwanese separatist forces will be able to sway our determination to resolve the Taiwan issue.
Chen Binhua, a representative for the Taiwan Affairs Office, emphasized that nothing could weaken our steadfast will to bring about the reunification of our country. According to the statement, their actions are escalating the risk of war in the Taiwan Strait by turning Taiwan into a stockpile of explosives and weapons.
In recent years, Taiwan has become the target of more military exercises by China’s People’s Liberation Army, which has sent fighter jets and warships to circle the island. Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense reported on Sunday that it has observed six Chinese navy ships passing by the island.
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Strengthening Defense with US Weapons
As part of a deterrent strategy against a Chinese invasion, Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party-led administration has increased the amount of weapons it buys from the United States.
Taiwan won’t have to wait for military manufacture and sales because the most recent round of help is a result of a presidential power that was approved by the US Congress last year to draw weapons from existing US military stocks.
Although Taiwan has spent $19 billion on weapons, the majority have not yet arrived in Taiwan.
China and Taiwan broke apart in 1949 as a result of civil war, and Taiwan has never been ruled by China’s Communist Party.
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Source: www.cbsnews.com
