China has increased its provocative incursions around Taiwan by 300 per cent since May, US Commander of Pacific Air Forces General Kevin Schneider said, adding that issues in the region may put to test the administration of US president-elect Donald Trump.
China strongly condemned the recent USD1.988 billion arms deal between the United States and Taiwan, stating that it seriously violates the one-China principle.
The United States has announced the largest-ever military aid package worth USD 567 million for Taiwan issued under the Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA), Focus Taiwan reported citing CNA.
This assurance was reaffirmed at the annual US-Taiwan Defence Industry Conference, which commenced in Philadelphia on Sunday, showcasing the depth of defence cooperation between the two democracies.
Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence also highlighted the strategic importance of this sale, noting that ongoing grey zone tactics by China have impacted Taiwan's training and operational readiness. The ministry further highlighted that this aviation-related equipment would enhance the comb
In a statement presented before the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee headed by US Senator Ben Cardin, Wang said that China's authoritarian regime poses one of the biggest threats to American democracy and security
Former US Defence official Elbridge Colby stressed that an attack by China against Taiwan could happen with little warning as China has given up on "peaceful unification", reported Taiwan News.
Amid the ongoing visit of US lawmakers to Taiwan, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning has said that Beijing strongly opposes military contact between the US and Taiwan, as well as any attempt of the nation to arm Taiwan.
Following the two-day large-scale military exercises by China surrounding Taiwan, a bipartisan delegation of US lawmakers arrived in Taipei to hold talks on US-Taiwan relations with the newly-sworn president Lai Ching-te administration, reported Taiwan News.
China said the "military collusion" between the US and Taiwan as well as the "separatist acts" of the "Taiwan independence forces", are the main sources of disruption to the current stability in the Taiwan Straits.