Taiwan President-elect lauds U.S. aid package
Taiwan’s incoming President Lai Ching-te said on Tuesday that a multi-billion U.S. military aid package will “strengthen deterrence against authoritarianism”, as China ramps up political and military pressure on the self-ruled island.
Democratic Taiwan is claimed by China, which has said it would never renounce the use of force to bring the island under its control.
Taipei has in recent years bolstered its economic and political ties with top partner and weapons provider the United States, a move that China has warned Washington against doing.
The U.S. House of Representatives passed four Bills on Saturday in a massive defence package, specically allocating $8 billion under one Bill to counter China in the region.
Another $1.9 billion was earmarked for replenishing
The U.S. House had allocated $8 billion under a Bill to counter China in South China Sea
Taipei’s military equipment and training, while $2 billion will be used for “foreign military nancing” for countries in the region as well as Taiwan.
Vice President Lai, who will take oce on May 20, said during a meeting with a visiting U.S. delegation that the Bill demonstrates Washington’s “commitment to Taiwan security”.
“This Bill will not only help strengthen deterrence against authoritarianism in the West Pacic democratic island chain, it will also enhance the condence of countries in the Indo-Pacic region in the United States to safeguard free and democratic values,” he said.
The U.S. delegation includes Republican Lisa McClain and Democrat Dan Kildee who are in Taiwan
until Thursday to discuss regional security issues with Taipei leaders.
Ms. McClain told Mr. Lai that she and Mr. Kildee may be from di£erent political parties but “we come here united with one goal and that is to continue to build and strengthen our relationship with your great country”.
Beijing, which regards Mr. Lai as a “dangerous separatist”, said before the January elections that he would cause “war and decline” for Taiwan.