Earth Science News
TRADE WARS
Taiwan's Lai says US military aid package will 'deter authoritarianism'
Taiwan's Lai says US military aid package will 'deter authoritarianism'
by AFP Staff Writers
Taipei (AFP) April 23, 2024

Taiwan's incoming president Lai Ching-te said on Tuesday that a multi-billion US 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 US House of Representatives passed four bills on Saturday in a massive defence package, specifically allocating $8 billion under one bill to counter China in the region.

Another $1.9 billion was earmarked for replenishing Taipei's military equipment and training, while $2 billion will be used for "foreign military financing" for countries in the region as well as Taiwan.

Vice President Lai, who will take office on May 20, said during a meeting with a visiting US delegation that the bill demonstrates Washington's "commitment to Taiwan security".

"This bill will not only help strengthen deterrence against authoritarianism in the West Pacific democratic island chain, it will also enhance the confidence of countries in the Indo-Pacific region in the United States to safeguard free and democratic values," he said.

The US delegation includes Republican Lisa McClain and Democrat Dan Kildee who are in Taiwan until Thursday to discuss regional security issues with Taipei leaders.

McClain told Lai that she and Kildee may be from different 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 Lai as a "dangerous separatist", said before the January elections that he would cause "war and decline" for Taiwan.

It has ramped up military and political pressures against Taiwan in recent years, sending in warplanes and naval vessels near-daily around the island.

The announcement of the $95 billion defence package -- which largely consists of approving military aid to Ukraine and bolstering Israel's defences -- came days before US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visits China.

High on the agenda for his trip, which begins Wednesday, will be to press Beijing to curb wartime support for Russia.

Related Links
Global Trade News

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
TRADE WARS
Splashy Saudi mega-project NEOM chases Chinese funds
Hong Kong (AFP) April 21, 2024
Bigwigs behind a Saudi megacity dogged by questions about its viability have wrapped up a tour courting Chinese investors, detailing plans for a futuristic ski resort and 170-kilometre-long skyscrapers. The roadshow for NEOM, brainchild of de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, travelled from Beijing to Shanghai to Hong Kong, where for two days would-be business partners flocked to a chic museum to peruse eye-popping renderings in various stages of development. No major deals were anno ... read more

TRADE WARS
Post-WWII order on 'brink of collapse': Amnesty head

UAE announces $544 mn for rain repairs, says lessons 'learned'

Water release resumes after partial power outage at Fukushima plant

Ecuador approves extradition, anti-gang measures

TRADE WARS
Asterra debuts groundbreaking L-band SAR API for commercial use

Chinese company aims to ramp up Serbia copper, gold mining

This alloy is kinky

Two-dimensional nanomaterial expands counter-intuitively under tension

TRADE WARS
Paris holds its breath for Olympic swimming events in murky Seine

As Olympics near, Macron says Seine will be clean enough for him

Norway women bring seaweed to culinary heights in Europe

How UK's biggest water supplier sank into crisis

TRADE WARS
Emperor penguins perish as ice melts to new lows: study

West Antarctic ice shelf stability threatened by feedback loop

New geological map redefines understanding of Greenland's subterranean rocks

From peak to plummet: impending decline of the warm Arctic-cold continents phenomenon

TRADE WARS
Satellite Monitoring Highlights Soil Sealing Challenges in the Mediterranean

El Nino threatens grain shortages in southern Africa

Philippine court blocks GMO 'golden rice' production over safety fears

Facing farmers' ire, EU lawmakers back rollback of environmental rules

TRADE WARS
10 dead as floods wreak havoc in Kenyan capital

Floods wreak havoc in Kenyan capital

Greece floods reconstruction to cost over 3 bn euros: PM

Victims of China floods race to salvage property

TRADE WARS
US sending senior officials to Niger to discuss troop exit

After villages razed in Sudan, U.S. calls for immediate end to attacks in North Darfur

African leaders call for more cooperation on terrorism

Mauritanian defence minister in Mali after diplomatic row

TRADE WARS
Evidence of long term human occupation in lava tube cave in Saudi Arabia

Schoningen Discoveries Highlight Wood's Vital Role in Early Human Technology

Activists slam new Hong Kong ID card policy for trans people

Paleolithic sites near water sources key to understanding early human hunting practices

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.