TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — China accused the United States of turning Taiwan into an “ammunition depot” after the White House announced a $345 million military aid package for Taipei, and the self-ruled island said Sunday it tracked six Chinese navy ships in waters off its shores.

China’s Taiwan Affairs Office issued a statement late Saturday opposing the military aid to Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory.

“No matter how much of the ordinary people’s taxpayer money the … Taiwanese separatist forces spend, no matter how many U.S. weapons, it will not shake our resolve to solve the Taiwan problem. Or shake our firm will to realize the reunification of our motherland,” said Chen Binhua, a spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office.

“Their actions are turning Taiwan into a powder keg and ammunition depot, aggravating the threat of war in the Taiwan Strait,” the statement said.

China’s People’s Liberation Army has increased its military maneuvers in recent years aimed at Taiwan, sending fighter jets and warships to circle the island.

On Sunday, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense said it tracked six Chinese navy ships near the island.

Taiwan’s ruling administration, led by the Democratic Progressive Party, has stepped up its weapons purchases from the U.S. as part of a deterrence strategy against a Chinese invasion.

China and Taiwan split amid civil war in 1949, and Taiwan has never been governed by China’s ruling Communist Party.

Unlike previous military purchases, the latest batch of aid is part of a presidential authority approved by the U.S. Congress last year to draw weapons from current U.S. military stockpiles — so Taiwan will not have to wait for military production and sales.

While Taiwan has purchased $19 billion worth of weaponry, much of it has yet to be delivered to Taiwan. Washington will send man-portable air defense systems, intelligence and surveillance capabilities, firearms and missiles to Taiwan.

  • xzite@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    If a referendum happened for this. Independence would absolutely not win.

    And since they also don’t want “unification” you are absolutely against China attempting to invade Taiwan, and any aggressive actions like shooting missiles into waters near Taiwan, or threatening invasion, right?

    • Move to lemm.ee@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      I am for the status quo but won’t be surprised if this constant interference from the US pushes them to end the matter permanently. It has been fine up until the US took an interest in it as part of the latest round of great power conflict. I won’t be happy about it, but I will understand what caused it.

      • xzite@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        So you’re obviously not “happy about, but understand what caused” the Vietnam war, right? It was Chinese interference that pushed the US to end the matter permanently?

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          1 year ago

          Lmao. Fuck no. The US involvement there was global imperialism trying to cling to its colonial holdings.

          A more accurate example would be the Cuban missile crisis. And yes I 100% get why the Americans had a problem with it.

          • xzite@lemmy.world
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            1 year ago

            Lmao. Fuck no. The US involvement there was global imperialism trying to cling to its colonial holdings.

            So the Chinese invasion of Vietnam is obviously also a bad thing that must be denounced and not just solemnly understood and accepted, right?

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              1 year ago

              There was no Chinese invasion of Vietnam until the sino-vietnam war that occurred years after the Vietnam war(civil war) in which China made the horrendous historical mistake of supporting the Khmer Rouge, but this itself was somewhat complicated. China had committed to protecting Cambodia, but Cambodia had a lot of fucky people on the border that were repeatedly invading Vietnam and performing pogroms and mass murders, not respecting their territorial integrity. This went on for far too long and Vietnam in order to protect themselves from Cambodia invaded Cambodia, doing a regime change. China launched their short-lived 1 month invasion in response to this as part of their commitment to their horrendously chosen ally, this is murky waters and not exactly a spontaneous invasion.

              Not really sure what you’re going for here.

              • xzite@lemmy.world
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                1 year ago

                Just one final question.

                You obviously don’t support Japan taking back the Kuril Islands from a weakened Russia and aren’t happy about it, but obviously you understand what caused it and why it had to happen, right?

                • Move to lemm.ee@lemmy.world
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                  1 year ago

                  I’m not familiar enough with this one to form an opinion, I’m not in the habit of holding opinions without proper investigation first and placing of things in their historical context, I can’t really do that right now I’m afraid. We’re both fortunate that for your previous questions I’m already fairly well read on to be honest.

                  So, maybe? Maybe not? lol. Aren’t these islands where the Ainu were from? They probably should be in control of the indigenous peoples so neither, but that’s unrealistic if they’re basically gone now. I’m probably saying something culturally incentive in my ignorance of the subject though.

                  • xzite@lemmy.world
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                    1 year ago

                    It’s very interesting how territorial disputes over basically uninhabited islands is too culturally insensitive to make conclusions on, but China invading and suppressing Taiwan harming millions in the process is an understandable certainty that doesn’t warrant condemnation.

                    I wonder why that is. 🤔