The president of the United States, Joe Bidenauthorized $571.3 million in defense assistance for Taiwan on Friday, the White House said.
In a statement, the Biden administration said the president authorized his Secretary of State to “order the disbursement of up to $571.3 million in Department of Defense defense articles and services, and military education and training, to provide assistance to Taiwan.” “.
The United States does not officially recognize Taiwan at the diplomatic level, but it is the strategic ally of the autonomous island and the main supplier of weapons.
China, which has increased political and military pressure on Taiwan in recent years, has repeatedly asked Washington to stop sending weapons and assistance to the island, which it claims as part of its territory.
Taiwanese officials said China last week held its largest maritime exercises in years, deploying about 90 ships from Japan’s southern islands to the South China Sea.
Beijing has not confirmed the exercises.
The White House statement did not provide details of the military assistance packagewhich comes less than three months after another similar package authorized for $567 million.
Beijing has regularly expressed anger at international support for Taipei and accused Washington of meddling in its affairs.
