China opposes US including Taiwan in passed aid bill

China’s “resolutely opposes” the inclusion of what it called “Taiwan-related content” in a four-bill package passed by the US Senate that included providing military aid to Taipei, its Taiwan Affairs Office said today.

China urged the US to fulfil its commitment to not support “Taiwan independence” with concrete actions, and stop arming Taiwan in any way, its spokesperson said.

The US Senate passed a legislative package providing security assistance to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan.

Taiwan’s military said it will discuss with the US how to use funding for Taipei included in the $95 billion legislative package as Chinese warplanes again manoeuvred close to the island.

This comes as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken was due in China today as the United States ramps up pressure on its main rival over its support for Russia, while seeking to manage tensions between the two powers.

The US diplomat is to meet China’s top brass in Beijing, where he is also expected to plead for continued restraint as Taiwan inaugurates a new leader and to raise US concerns on Chinese trade practices, a vital issue for president Joe Biden in an election year.