Biden Tells Congress To PASS This NEW $1 Billion URGENT Measure
(ConservativeInsider.org) – China believes that Taiwan is part of its country, but the island has its own constitution and sense of democracy; it has led itself for decades. In recent months, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has increased its rhetoric about “reunification” with Taiwan, making many in the international community wonder if the nation will soon try and take it over by force.
After House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) visited the island in a show of friendship in early August, China expressed its displeasure by doing military drills nearby. Now, President Joe Biden wants to send weapons to Taiwan should it need to defend its shores.
Biden Proposes $1 Billion Arms Package to Congress
On Monday, August 29, the US State Department told Congress that Biden is hoping the legislature would support a $1.1 billion arms deal to give Taiwan missiles and radar equipment. The package would contain up to $655.4 million for additional support for a radar system the nation already has, and $85.6 million for Sidewinder air-to-air defense missiles and anti-ship Harpoon missiles. None of this technology would be new for the Taiwanese military.
NEWS — The Biden admin plans to formally ask Congress to approve a $1.1 billion weapons sale to Taiwan in the coming days.
Scoop w/ @laraseligman https://t.co/mYWcGXy7Gw
— Andrew Desiderio (@AndrewDesiderio) August 29, 2022
On Tuesday, August 30, China’s Foreign Ministry supplied a statement to Bloomberg, stating the CCP “firmly opposes” such a deal and said its stance has been “consistent and clear.” While the US “One China” policy states that Taiwan is part of China, the American government has consistently supported the island with military aid in line with the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA) of 1979.
US Support for Taiwan
The TRA outlines the US should have “strategic ambiguity” over whether or not it would come to Taiwan’s defense if China were to invade. However, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have repeatedly expressed a desire to help the island protect itself as it is a critical ally in the Indo-Pacific region.
With this in mind, on Sunday, August 28, the US Navy sailed two warships through the Taiwan Strait. In a statement from the commander of the 7th Fleet, the exercise was to show, once again, that America is committed to a “free and open Indo-Pacific.” In response to this, the Chinese military said it was on high alert and ready to combat any aggression.
Taiwan Ramps Up Its Defense
Wednesday, August 31, Taiwan’s deputy chief of general staff, Lin Wen-Huang, told reporters the military was ready to “exercise right to self-defence and counter-attack without exception.” He emphasized if a Chinese military ship or drone came within 12 nautical miles of the island, they would use force to push it back. This comes just days after Taiwan fired warning shots at a drone that had come from the Chinese mainland, although no one has yet taken ownership of the drones.
Given all the tension on that side of the world, is a new arms deal with Taiwan a necessary defense measure, or is it just adding another billion dollars to the national debt and stoking inflation?
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