China calls Taiwan a ‘red line’, criticises new U.S. military aid to island

Beijing considers democratically governed Taiwan its own territory, a claim the government in Taipei rejects. File
| Photo Credit: Reuters

The Chinese government protested Sunday (December 22, 2024) the latest American announcements of military sales and assistance to Taiwan, warning the United States that it is “playing with fire”.

U.S. President Joe Biden authorised Saturday (December 21, 2024) the provision of up to $571 million in Defense Department material and services and military education and training for Taiwan. Separately, the Defence Department said Friday (December 20, 2024) that $295 million in military sales had been approved.

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A Chinese Foreign Ministry statement urged the U.S. to stop arming Taiwan and stop what it called “dangerous moves that undermine peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.” Taiwan is a democratic island of 23 million people that the Chinese government claims as its territory and says must come under its control. U.S. military sales and assistance aim to help Taiwan defend itself and deter China from launching an attack. 

The $571 million in military assistance comes on top of President Biden’s authorisation of $567 million for the same purposes in late September. The military sales include $265 million for about 300 tactical radio systems and $30 million for 16-gun mounts.

Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry welcomed the approval of the two sales, saying in a social media post on X that it reaffirmed the U.S. government’s “commitment to our defence.”