The order means the U.S. will directly ship its own weapon stocks to Taiwan, a move it has employed often to support Ukraine’s war effort.

The United States will soon send one of its largest-ever security assistance packages to Taiwan — nearly $570 million — the White House said late Monday in a move sure to anger China.

Washington, Taipei’s biggest and most important backer despite a lack of bilateral ties, will use its fastest tool available to deliver the aid to Taiwan, as the democratic island grapples with ramped-up military moves by China in the waters and airspace nearby.

Beijing — which claims Taiwan as a renegade province and has vowed to unify the island with the mainland, by force if necessary — has steadfastly demanded that Washington halt weapons sales to Taipei.

  • The Snark Urge@lemmy.worldEnglish
    10·
    1 month ago

    The drone situation in any assault on Taiwan would be a sight to behold. Truly, literally hellish.

    I hope it is not attempted.

    • huginn@feddit.itEnglish
      25·
      1 month ago

      Taiwan is a natural fortress as well. Even if the mainland invaded the guerilla fighting in the mountains would be a new Afghanistan for the occupying force.

      All for the political victory of “we did it!”

      Taiwan has few natural resources that China doesn’t already have. They mostly have high tech industry… Which would be annihilated by an invasion. No way chip fabs survive: either they get bombed while softening up a landing or they get sabotaged as a spoiling action.

      • The Snark Urge@lemmy.worldEnglish
        222·
        1 month ago

        That’s the tragedy. China’s development of chip manufacturing is in preparation for the ensuing sanctions and ultimate destruction of Taiwanese output. Hence chip makers are also diversifying into other areas.

        It’s not just anti-ROC ideology though, it’s a larger attack on the international rules-based order. The reason China props up Russian aggression is because they’re a useful drain on western defensive alliances, at least until their dependence on China vassalizes Russia completely. They don’t necessarily need Russia to win, they need them to keep the world’s defense production output spent elsewhere long enough for them to make their play.

        They’re bad for each other, but they love having a mutual enabler.

        • eacapesamsara@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
          42·
          1 month ago

          “rules based order” is a myth made up by america for the american media. It’s never existed countries never agreed to any such rules, and even the US has not ever followed such rules