A bipartisan U.S. congressional delegation pledged continued support for Taiwan on Thursday, days after Congress approved $300 million in military aid for the self-governed island that’s claimed by China.

Congress also approved $400 million on Saturday to counter the Chinese government’s influence in the region, as part of its Defense Appropriations Act.

China regards Taiwan as a breakaway province to be brought under its control, by force if necessary. Beijing sends warships and fighter jets near the island daily, as it ramps up its military pressure.

  • givesomefucks@lemmy.world
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    8 months ago

    It’s good when we do the right thing, even for the wrong reasons.

    But if China was an “ally”, apparently we would be actively blocking this aid instead of providing it.

    Acting like this is for any reason besides fucking over China is dishonest.

    America didn’t train and fund Osama bin Laden because we agreed with him, we just did it because he was a problem for Russia.

    And we’re not funding Taiwan because it’s the right thing to do, it’s because we want to fuck with China indirectly.

    • will_a113
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      8 months ago

      Also because Taiwan is currently the only place to get state-of-the-art microchips

    • dogslayeggs@lemmy.world
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      8 months ago

      it’s because we want to fuck with China indirectly

      No, it’s because they are pretty much the only place that makes advanced semiconductors, and we want to ensure we have continued access to those instead of letting China become the only country who can make them and then lock us out.

    • gravitas_deficiency@sh.itjust.works
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      8 months ago

      We’re funding Taiwan because they produce the vast majority of advanced integrated circuits in the world. If the PRC decides to invade Taiwan, you should know that one of their contingency plans for being overrun is to literally blow up every single one of their chip foundries and all the critical equipment in them.

      That second part, by the way, was likely one of the impetuses for the PRC taking it on the chin right now by blacklisting AMD and Intel from their critical infrastructure, nationwide.

      • Pan_Ziemniak@midwest.social
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        8 months ago

        sigh

        We didnt “spend” it, weve sent that amounts worth of b stock. And last i checked Ukraine is in open war, rather ill equiped for the fight, and are in this position now bc we pressured them into giving up on their nuclear capabilities.

        We authorize sending more, or end up with american soldiers on the ground.

        • dogslayeggs@lemmy.world
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          8 months ago

          OK, fine, we didn’t spend $100B. We sent $75B in old equipment and spent $25B in humanitarian aid and financial support.

          That’s still $25B vs $0.4B.

          • Pan_Ziemniak@midwest.social
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            8 months ago

            Ukraine is in open war, rather ill equiped for the fight, and are in this position now bc we pressured them into giving up on their nuclear capabilities.

            We authorize sending more, or end up with american soldiers on the ground.

            I am not saying to not assist Taiwan, for the record.