China warns US ‘playing with fire’ by providing military aid to Taiwan

LAUREN TAYLOR: After the U.S. announced military sales and aid to Taiwan, China says the U.S. is, quote, “playing with fire.”

In a statement, the Chinese government said Sunday that Taiwan is the “first red line that cannot be crossed” in relations between China and the U.S.

The U.S. authorized up to $571 million in Defense Department material, services and training for Taiwan and has also sold hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of weapons to the island’s government.

This comes just a few months after the U.S. approved another aid package of the same amount.

Taiwan governs itself as a democracy, sitting 100 miles off-shore from China. The U.S. has no formal relationship with Taiwan but provides its government with aid and weapons sales.

It has backed Taiwan since the Communist Party took over China in 1949 but shifted to an informal relationship in 1980.

In practice, China does not control Taiwan but considers it Chinese territory. In recent years, China has escalated its activities around the island, suggesting that it could try to attack and take over Taiwan in the future.

While Taiwan has accused China of undermining peace and stability in the region for its actions, this weekend it was China making those accusations about the U.S. in response to its aid to Taiwan.

President-elect Donald Trump has not committed to defending Taiwan if China’s communist government invades the island, but has requested Taiwan pay more to the U.S. for defense.

For Straight Arrow News, I’m Lauren Taylor.

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