Taiwan seeks US arms amid rising tensions with China
Taiwan is pondering the possibility of acquiring weapons from the United States valued at billions of pounds. This decision is intended to bolster the island's defence in the face of increasing military pressure from China. Discussions with Washington are in the preliminary stages, reports Reuters.
Taiwan is engaged in talks with the US administration about the acquisition of weapons estimated at billions of pounds.
Reuters reports that authorities aim to secure support from the incoming Donald Trump administration as China continues to apply military pressure on the island.
The agency adds that talks with Washington are in the preliminary stages, and specifics regarding the potential acquisition have not yet been revealed.
Reuters sources suggest that the acquisition may include HIMARS missiles.
China builds a special fleet
China is actively developing a fleet of special barges that could be utilised for an invasion of Taiwan. The new vessels spotted at the shipyard in Guangzhou have long road bridges, indicating their potential use in landing operations.
China is escalating its maritime ambitions by building a fleet aimed at dominating the Pacific. Recently, the world's largest Type 076 landing ship was launched, underscoring China's expanding naval prowess.
This ship, fitted with modern systems, can transport up to 1,000 soldiers and symbolises Beijing's aspirations to supplant the US as the global hegemon.
In response to rising tensions with China, Taiwan has embarked on comprehensive military exercises, Han Kuang. These exercises are designed to test the effectiveness of defending critical infrastructure and communication systems should there be a Chinese blockade.
Taiwan's independence. There's a change in the US
Last week, the US State Department modified the wording on its website concerning Taiwan, omitting the phrase "we do not support Taiwan's independence." The updated text also expressed support for the country's participation in international organisations.
Washington's removal of the statement about not supporting Taiwan's independence from the information bulletin is considered a "serious setback" in the US's position on the island, stated Beijing's Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun on Monday. He urged the US to "immediately rectify its mistakes."
"This is another instance of the United States persistently adhering to a flawed policy of using Taiwan to suppress China. We call on the American side to promptly rectify its mistakes," said Guo.
The communist authorities in Beijing assert that Taiwan is an "eternal" part of the PRC, although the PRC has never controlled it. Xi insists that "unification of the motherland" is "inevitable" and describes it as a prerequisite for the realisation of the project he champions, namely the "great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation." The Chinese leader does not dismiss the possibility of military intervention.
