Biden approves $567 million in defense aid for Taiwan

Although the US does not formally recognise Taiwan diplomatically, it is a key partner of Taipei and a major arms supplier - a point of consternation for Beijing, which has repeatedly urged Washington to stop arming the island.

The White House said Biden had delegated to the secretary of state "to order the withdrawal of up to $567 million in Defense Department for defensive help and services, as well as military education and training, to provide assistance to Taiwan."

He gave no details of the package, which is nearly double the $345 million in defense support approved last July.

In April this year, the United States approved billions in military aid for Taiwan in the face of an increasingly assertive China, which has increased military and political pressure on the island in recent years.

Beijing regularly expresses anger at international support for Taipei and accuses Washington of meddling in its affairs.

China claims democratic Taiwan as part of its territory and maintains an almost daily presence of fighter jets, drones and warships around the island.

Beijing has said it will never give up using force to bring Taiwan under its control, and has also stepped up it's rhetoric about "reunification that is inevitable." | BGNES