Taiwan’s Lai says US military aid package will ‘deter authoritarianism’

Taiwan’s new President Lai Ching-te said on April 23 that a multibillion-dollar US military aid package will “strengthen deterrence against authoritarianism” as China steps up political and military pressure on the self-ruled island.

Democratic Taiwan is claimed by China, which has said it would never abandon the use of force to control the island.

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Taipei has strengthened its economic and political ties with top partner and arms supplier the United States in recent years, a move China has warned Washington about.

The US House of Representatives on Saturday passed four bills in a massive defense package, specifically allocating $8 billion under one bill to counter China in the region.

Another $1.9 billion was earmarked to supplement Taipei’s military equipment and training, while $2 billion will be used for “foreign military financing” for countries in the region and Taiwan.

Vice President Lai, who takes office on May 20, said during a meeting with a visiting US delegation that the bill demonstrates Washington’s “commitment to Taiwan’s security.”

“This bill will not only help strengthen deterrence against authoritarianism in the democratic Western Pacific island chain, it will also increase the confidence of countries in the Indo-Pacific region in the United States to protect free and democratic values” , he said.

The US delegation includes Republican Lisa McClain and Democrat Dan Kildee, who are in Taiwan until Thursday to discuss regional security issues with Taipei leaders.

Ms McClain told Lai that she and Kildee may be from different political parties, but “we come here united with one purpose and that is to continue to build and strengthen our relationship with your great country”.

Beijing, which views Lai as a “dangerous separatist,” said before the January election that he would bring “war and decline” to Taiwan.

It has increased military and political pressure against Taiwan in recent years, sending fighter jets and naval ships around the island almost daily.

The announcement of the $95 billion defense package — which largely consists of approving military aid to Ukraine and boosting Israel’s defenses — came days before U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited China.

High on the agenda of his trip, which starts on Wednesday, will be pressure on Beijing to curb its wartime support for Russia.