US trade deal with China sidetracks military aid to Taiwan: report

President Donald Trump reportedly denied a deal that would have provided $400 million in military aid for the island of Taiwan.
The decision has not been finalized and could still be reversed, but reports indicate that the White House hopes to arrange a weapons sales agreement instead.
“The U.S. has long supported Taiwan in strengthening its defense capabilities,” the Taiwanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement. “As a responsible member of the region, Taiwan is determined and will continue to strengthen its self-defense capabilities, cooperate with the United States and other friendly allied countries, jointly deter aggression, and ensure regional peace and stability.”
Trump’s decision is a departure from the long-standing military aid allocations offered to the contested island territory, which five sources revealed to the Washington Post under condition of anonymity.
The president is empowered to provide up to $1 billion in aid packages to Taiwan per fiscal year. Previous administrations have made wide use of this budget, frequently rolling out hundreds of millions of dollars in munitions and defensive technology.
Taiwan is not recognized as an independent country by the U.S., which holds to a One-China policy favoring the People’s Republic of China. Under this arrangement, the U.S. military cooperates with the Taiwanese armed forces, and the two countries share economic relations without formal diplomacy.
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