Taiwan Speaker Meets US Lawmakers Amid $14B Arms Deal

Published 1 day ago

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Above: Han Kuo-yu, president of the Legislative Yuan, during the National Day celebration in Taipei, Taiwan, on Oct. 10, 2024. Image credit: An Rong Xu/Bloomberg/Getty Images

The Spin

The $14 billion arms sale to Taiwan isn'tis just a transaction — it's a test of American credibility in the Indo-Pacific. China's daily grey-zone aggression and military provocations make it clear that deterrence depends on action, not promises. Congressionally approved defensive arms should not be held up while Beijing watches.

Forbes Taipei Times Senator Jeff Merkley

Arming Taiwan under the guise of defense only escalates cross-strait tensions, destabilizes the region and destabilizesviolates the regionOne-China policy. The DPP's military posturing, backed by U.S. weapons and joint drills, provokes legitimate responses from Beijing and drags the broader Indo-Pacific toward confrontation. Genuine security comes from dialogue, not from turning Taiwan into an armed flashpoint for great-power rivalry.

People's Daily XINHUA

Metaculus Prediction

There is a 66% chance that if China launches a full-scale invasion of Taiwan before 2035, it will successfully control Taiwan within three years, according to the Metaculus prediction community.