President-elect: US$8 billion military aid package for Taiwan will “boost regional confidence” – Times of India

Taipei: A$8 billion Defense package allowed United States House of Representatives The weekend will be “intense Authoritarianism Chain of Allies in the Western Pacific,” Taiwanof President-Elect Lai said on Tuesday, referring to arch-rival China.
The fund will also “help ensure Peace and stability Taiwan’s current Vice President Lai Chi spoke to Michigan Representative Lisa McClain (Republican) and Democrat Dan Kildee in a meeting at the Presidential Palace in the capital, Taipei.
Lai said Taiwan is “determined to defend democracy and protect our motherland” in the face of “authoritarian expansionism”.
Also known as William Lai, the US-educated former medical researcher is censured by Beijing for opposing political integration with the mainland. In recent elections, pro-unity nationalists won a slim majority in the legislature, but their influence on foreign policy and other national issues remains limited.
The Senate will vote Tuesday on $95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan.
The package covers a wide range of parts and services designed to maintain and upgrade Taiwan’s military hardware. In addition, Taiwan signed a multi-billion-dollar deal with the United States to provide Ukraine with the latest generation of F-16V fighter jets, M1 Abrams main battle tanks and HIMARS rocket systems.
Taiwan is also expanding its defense industry, building submarines and training aircraft. China is planning to commission its third and fourth indigenously designed and built stealth frigates to take on the Chinese navy next month. As part of the strategy Asymmetric warfare Where small forces fight larger adversaries through the use of sophisticated or unconventional tactics and weapons.
The pro-independence ruling Democratic Progressive Party easily won elections in January and the following month succeeded President Tsai Ing-wen, whom Beijing has tried to oust for the past eight years.
China is determined to use force if necessary to annex the island, which it considers its own territory, and promotes that threat with daily incursions by naval vessels and warplanes into the waters and airspace around Taiwan. It also seeks to strip Taiwan of its few remaining formal diplomatic partners.
Although there are no formal diplomatic ties between Washington and Taipei, McLean emphasized the need to monitor the strength of the world relationship.
“Peace is our goal. But to do that we need to build relationships, and we value your relationships. Not just militarily, but also economically,” he said.
Kildee said the timing of the visit was particularly important because the recently passed appropriations bill “provides critical assistance to ensure the security of the region.”
“It’s important to the people of Taiwan, it’s important to the people of the United States and it’s important to the world,” Kildee said.

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