U.S. pledges $571.3M defense aid to Taiwan, approves $265M military sale amid rising tensions with China.
The United States is bound by law to provide Chinese-claimed Taiwan with the means to defend itself despite the lack of formal diplomatic ties between Washington and Taipei, to the constant anger of Beijing.
Democratically governed Taiwan rejects China's claims of sovereignty.
China has stepped up military pressure against Taiwan, including daily military activities near the island and two rounds of war games this year.
Taiwan went on alert last week in response to what it said was China's largest massing of naval forces in three decades around Taiwan and in the East and South China Seas.
Biden had delegated to the secretary of state the authority "to direct the drawdown of up to $571.3 million in defense articles and services of the Department of Defense, and military education and training, to provide assistance to Taiwan," the White House said in a statement without providing details.
Taiwan's defense ministry thanked the United States for its "firm security guarantee", saying in a statement the two sides would continue to work closely on security issues to ensure peace in the Taiwan Strait.
The Pentagon said the State Department had approved the potential sale to Taiwan of about $265 million worth of command, control, communications, and computer modernization equipment.
Taiwan's defense ministry said the equipment sale would help upgrade its command-and-control systems.
Taiwan's defense ministry also said on Saturday that the U.S. government had approved $30 million of parts for 76 mm autocannon, which it said would boost the island's capacity to counter China's "grey-zone" warfare.
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President Zelenskyy confirmed Ukraine’s readiness to ratify a free trade agreement with Türkiye, calling it a key security partner during talks in Kyiv on reconstruction and drone production.
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Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for March 14th, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Syria's interim president signed a temporary constitution on Thursday, establishing Islamist rule for a five-year transitional period, along with rights for women, freedom of expression and justice for Assad victims.
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President Zelenskyy confirmed Ukraine’s readiness to ratify a free trade agreement with Türkiye, calling it a key security partner during talks in Kyiv on reconstruction and drone production.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for March 14th, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Senior diplomats from Iran, Russia, and China gathered in Beijing on Friday for discussions on Tehran's nuclear programme, following Iran's rejection of U.S. "orders" to resume talks over the issue.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance said on Thursday he would be surprised if President Donald Trump supported the deployment of nuclear weapons further east into Europe, following Poland’s request to host U.S. nuclear arms as a deterrent against Russia.
President Zelenskyy confirmed Ukraine’s readiness to ratify a free trade agreement with Türkiye, calling it a key security partner during talks in Kyiv on reconstruction and drone production.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has expressed his desire for the establishment of diplomatic relations between Türkiye and Armenia highlighting the "significant" trade and business ties between the two countries.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for March 14th, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Syria's interim president signed a temporary constitution on Thursday, establishing Islamist rule for a five-year transitional period, along with rights for women, freedom of expression and justice for Assad victims.
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