China reacted with outrage to the new US law that released a military aid package for Taiwan. According to Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian, the legislation seriously infringes on the Asian country’s sovereignty and is a form of ‘bullying’ by Washington against Beijing.
The statement was made this Monday (29) during a regular press conference in Beijing. Lin stressed that the military aid granted to the Chinese island seriously violates the one-China principle, the three China-US joint communiqués (read below) and sends a seriously wrong signal to the separatist forces of “Taiwan independence”.
“The legislation undermines the principles of market economy and fair competition by blatantly persecuting companies from other countries in the name of ‘national security,’ which once again reveals the hegemonic and bullying nature of the United States,” he said.
The spokesperson further highlighted that the new law advocates for sanctions on China, ignoring the enormous amount of work China has done to help the United States deal with its fentanyl crisis.
“The legislation also threatens to impose unilateral sanctions and far-reaching jurisdiction over normal economic and trade exchanges between China and Iran under the framework of international law, which creates serious obstacles to Sino-US cooperation in relevant areas,” Lin said. .
Lin stressed that China urges the United States to respect China’s core interests and major concerns, and not implement such negative articles regarding China.
“Otherwise, China will take strong and resolute measures to safeguard our sovereignty, security and development interests,” he warned.
The three joint communiqués between China and the United States
- The First Joint Communiqué: Issued in 1972, during the historic visit of the President of the United States, Richard Nixon, to China, it established the recognition of fundamental principles for relations between the two countries, including respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, the non-interference in the internal affairs of each country and the peaceful resolution of disputes.
- The Second Joint Communiqué: Issued in 1979, after the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, affirmed the United States’ commitment to ending diplomatic relations with Taiwan and recognizing the government in Beijing as the only legitimate government in China.
- The Third Joint Communiqué: Issued in 1982, it reiterated the United States’ commitment to the one-China policy and provided assurances about the gradual reduction of US arms sales to Taiwan.
What the new US law says
After months of delays and contentious debates, the bill releasing a $95 billion aid package for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan was signed by President Joe Biden on the 24th.
The legislation goes beyond the Chinese island and contains provisions that broadly affect many parts of the Asia-Pacific, as well as spending billions of dollars in the United States.
House Republicans called the $8.1 billion for the Indo-Pacific an effort to “counter communist China and ensure strong deterrence in the region”but most of the funds go to projects in the US itself.
$1.9 billion is designated for a Columbia-class submarine – the United States’ newest class of nuclear submarines – with the first expected to be delivered in 2027. Another $200 million is designated for a Columbia-class submarine. Virginia.
The vast majority of this money will be spent in the United States, with more than 16,000 providers in all 50 states expected to benefit, according to analysis by the Foreign Policy Research Institute (FPRI), an American think tank that focuses on research and analysis of issues related to foreign policy, national security and international affairs.
“Nearly half of Indo-Pacific appropriations directly bolster the submarine industrial base. While this investment will improve deterrence in the Indo-Pacific, the immediate impact will be to support the U.S. economy,” wrote Connor Fiddler, associate deputy director of the Indo-Pacific Asia Program. FPRI.
Another $2 billion of funding in the aid package will go toward the foreign military financing program for Taiwan and other security partners in the Indo-Pacific, which the U.S. says is “Facing Chinese Aggression”.
According to US officials, the foreign financing program allows eligible partner countries “acquire U.S. defense items, services, and training”.
Another $1.9 billion will go toward defense-related expenditures provided to Taiwan and other regional partners, while $542 million will specifically strengthen U.S. military capabilities in the region.
China warns of dangerous situation
On the same day the law was signed into law by Biden, China criticized the package, saying such funding was pushing Taiwan into a “dangerous situation”.
Beijing’s Taiwan Affairs Office said aid “seriously violating” US commitments to China and “sends the wrong signal to Taiwanese separatist independence forces”.
Separately, Taiwan has signed billions in contracts with the US for next-generation F-16V fighter jets, M1 Abrams main battle tanks and the HIMARS rocket system, which the US has also supplied to Ukraine.
The United States is Taiwan’s most important international supporter and arms supplier, even in the absence of formal diplomatic ties. China has repeatedly demanded an end to arms sales to the Chinese island.
