Taiwan eyes major US arms deal amid growing China tensions
Taiwan is considering purchasing weapons from the United States worth billions of dollars. This decision aims to strengthen the island's defence in the face of increasing military pressure from China. Talks with Washington are in the early stages, reports Reuters.
Taiwan is engaged in discussions with the US administration about purchasing weapons valued at billions of dollars.
Reuters reports that authorities aim to secure support from the incoming Donald Trump administration as China continues to apply military pressure on the island.
The agency adds that talks with Washington are in the early stages, and details regarding the potential purchase have not yet been disclosed.
Reuters sources indicate that the purchase may include HIMARS missiles.
China builds a special fleet
China is intensively developing a fleet of special barges that can be used for a landing on Taiwan. The new vessels observed at the shipyard in Guangzhou have extensive road bridges, suggesting their potential use in landing operations.
China is intensifying its maritime ambitions by developing a fleet aimed at dominating the Pacific. Recently, the world's largest Type 076 landing ship was launched, highlighting China's growing naval power.
This ship, equipped with modern systems, can carry up to 1,000 soldiers and symbolizes Beijing's aspirations to replace the United States as the global hegemon.
In response to rising tensions with China, Taiwan has begun comprehensive military exercises, Han Kuang. These exercises aim to test the effectiveness of defending critical infrastructure and communication systems in the event of a Chinese blockade.
Taiwan's independence. There's a change in the US
Last week, the US State Department changed the wording on its website regarding Taiwan, removing the phrase "we do not support Taiwan's independence." The updated text also expressed support for the country's membership in international organizations.
Washington's removal of the statement about not supporting Taiwan's independence from the information bulletin is considered a "serious setback" in the US's stance on the island, stated Beijing's Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun on Monday. He called on the US to "immediately correct its mistakes."
"This is another example of the United States stubbornly adhering to a wrong policy of using Taiwan to suppress China. We call on the American side to immediately correct its mistakes," said Guo.
The communist authorities in Beijing claim that Taiwan is an "eternal" part of the PRC, although the PRC has never controlled it. Xi maintains that "unification of the motherland" is "inevitable" and describes it as a prerequisite for the realization of the project he promotes, namely, the "great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation." The Chinese leader does not rule out military intervention.
