• The U.S. has quietly released $870 million in military aid to Taiwan, resuming funding paused during the Trump administration.
• China strongly opposes the move, calling it a violation of the one-China principle and a threat to regional stability.
• The aid marks a significant escalation in U.S. support for Taiwan, which began receiving U.S.-funded military assistance in 2023.
• Tensions in the Taiwan Strait continue to rise as both sides exchange warnings, with China vowing to defend its sovereignty.

A history of U.S.-Taiwan military ties

In a move that has reignited tensions between the U.S. and China, the Trump administration has released 870 million in military aid to Taiwan, part of a broader 5.3 billion package exempted from a previous foreign aid freeze. The decision, first reported by Reuters on February 21, 2025, has drawn sharp criticism from Beijing, which views Taiwan as a breakaway province and opposes any foreign military support for the island.

China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian condemned the move during a press conference on February 26, stating, “China has all along opposed U.S. military assistance to China’s Taiwan region, which has severely violated the one-China principle and the three China-U.S. joint communiqués.” He urged the U.S. to “stop arming Taiwan and undermining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.”

The U.S. has maintained a complex relationship with Taiwan since severing formal diplomatic ties with the island in 1979 as part of a normalization agreement with China. Despite this, Washington has continued to sell weapons to Taipei under the Taiwan Relations Act, which mandates U.S. support for Taiwan’s self-defense. However, the shift from arms sales to direct U.S.-funded military aid in 2023 marked a significant escalation in American involvement.

In 2024, President Biden approved over 1 billion in military aid to Taiwan, a move that Beijing interpreted as a direct challenge to its sovereignty. The latest 870 million package further cements the U.S. commitment to Taiwan’s defense, even as it risks inflaming tensions with China.

China’s stern warnings

China has repeatedly warned that U.S. military support for Taiwan emboldens “Taiwan independence” forces and undermines regional stability. During a February 27 press conference, Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Wu Qian issued a stark warning to both the U.S. and Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).

“The Taiwan question is an internal affair of China, which brooks no external interference,” Wu said. “The U.S. side wants to contain China with Taiwan and connives at risky and provocative activities of the DPP authorities for ‘Taiwan independence.’ This strategy will ultimately backfire.”

Wu also criticized the DPP for harboring “illusions” of U.S. support for independence, calling it a “serious miscalculation” of the geopolitical landscape. “We warn the DPP authorities that holding back the tide with a broom will only end up in self-destruction,” he added.

The U.S. has long maintained a policy of “strategic ambiguity” regarding Taiwan, refusing to explicitly state whether it would defend the island in the event of a Chinese attack. However, President Biden briefly abandoned this approach in 2024, signaling a stronger commitment to Taiwan’s defense.

In contrast, former President Trump has reverted to a more ambiguous stance, declining to clarify whether the U.S. would intervene militarily if China invaded Taiwan. Despite this, the resumption of military aid under his administration suggests a continued willingness to support Taipei, even as Beijing views such actions as highly provocative.

Why this matters today

The Taiwan Strait remains one of the most volatile flashpoints in global geopolitics. Taiwan’s strategic location and advanced semiconductor industry make it a critical player in the U.S.-China rivalry. For Beijing, reunification with Taiwan is a non-negotiable goal, and any perceived support for Taiwanese independence is seen as a direct threat to China’s territorial integrity.

The U.S. justifies its military aid as a deterrent against Chinese aggression, but critics argue that such actions only heighten the risk of conflict. As tensions continue to simmer, the stakes for both sides could not be higher.

The release of $870 million in military aid to Taiwan is more than a financial transaction; it is a geopolitical chess move in a high-stakes game of brinkmanship. For the U.S., it is a calculated effort to counterbalance China’s growing influence in the region. For China, it is an unacceptable provocation that strikes at the heart of its national sovereignty.

As the two superpowers navigate this precarious relationship, the Taiwan Strait remains a powder keg waiting to ignite. The question is not whether the fuse will be lit, but who will be left holding the match when it happens. In the meantime, the people of Taiwan find themselves caught in the crossfire of a geopolitical tug-of-war, their future hanging in the balance.

Sources include:

NewsAntiwar.com

NPR.org

FMPRC.gov