US deepens military ties with Taiwan amid rising tensions in the Pacific
- The United States signed off on $385 million in military equipment sales to Taiwan, including parts for fighter jets and radar systems.
- Taiwan's President William Lai is on a diplomatic trip, which includes stops in the US, provoking anger from China.
- This arms deal reflects the deepening military ties between the US and Taiwan amidst increasing Chinese military pressure.
In a significant move, the United States has approved a $385 million arms sale to Taiwan, aimed at enhancing the self-governing island's military capabilities against perceived threats from China. This decision, announced by the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency, is part of a broader trend of increasing military cooperation between the US and Taiwan, which has witnessed China's growing military assertiveness in the region. The arms package includes spare parts for fighter jets and radar systems to bolster Taiwan's F-16 fleet, ensuring its operational readiness amidst escalating tensions. The announcement comes as Taiwan's President William Lai Ching-te embarks on an official visit to Pacific allies including the Marshall Islands, Tuvalu, and Palau, with planned stops in Hawaii and Guam. His trip marks his first foreign visit since taking office in May, and it reflects Taiwan's efforts to strengthen alliances and assert its presence in the Pacific. However, this visit and the recent arms sales have provoked strong reactions from China, which claims Taiwan as its own and has not ruled out the use of force to achieve unification. China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed vehement opposition to Lai's trip to the US, labeling it as a