:quality(85)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/infobae/BVO2T4TQS4OYYWF7QVPWB7BVWM.jpg "The US reinforced its support for Taiwan and Blinken will travel to China to reduce tension in the Indo-Pacific")
The United States Department of State has confirmed that Secretary of State Antony Blinken will be traveling to China this week in a show of support for Taiwan. This comes after the House of Representatives approved a bill providing nearly USD 8,000 million in military assistance to the island.
Blinken’s visit, scheduled between Wednesday and Friday in Shanghai and Beijing, will include meetings with his counterpart, Wang Yi, to discuss various bilateral, regional, and global issues. This includes conflicts in the Middle East, tensions in the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait, anti-narcotics cooperation, military communication, Artificial Intelligence, and strengthening ties between nations.
The United States has been increasing its support for Taiwan in response to Chinese military exercises aimed at intimidating the island. The Biden Administration has been ramping up arms shipments to Taiwan to modernize its defense systems and has plans to continue these actions throughout the year.
Meanwhile, Taiwanese authorities have reported the presence of Chinese fighters and ships near their territory, prompting the Ministry of Defense to monitor the situation closely. Beijing’s recent establishment of new aviation routes near Taiwanese islands without consultation has further escalated tensions, leading Taipei to call for aircraft approaching these routes to be diverted for safety reasons.
In addition to addressing the situation in Taiwan, Blinken will also discuss concerns about weapons and technological cooperation between China and Russia. A recent report revealed that a significant portion of Moscow’s military equipment, including microelectronics and machinery, came from China, indicating a growing partnership between the two countries.
Blinken’s visit to China comes at a critical time as tensions in the Indo-Pacific region continue to rise. The United States remains committed to supporting Taiwan and strengthening its defense capabilities amidst growing threats from China.