The US and China are at odds again. China is now sanctioning Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman for providing Taiwan with weapons. Last month was the first time that the US government approved direct military assistance to Taiwan. Previously, the US fulfilled its obligation under the Taiwan Relations Act without providing direct aid. This is a five-decade change of course for the US, so we must wonder why. Taiwan may be the most hot-topic item for China, and they have zero tolerance for anyone disobeying the One China policy.
“Despite China’s firm opposition, the US government is determined to provide weapons to Taiwan… seriously harming China’s sovereignty and security interests, and going further and further on the wrong and dangerous road of arming Taiwan,” stated Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning. Taiwan received $345 million from the Biden Administration in July from what they referred to as leftover stockpiles from aid to Ukraine.
Certain components may become more expensive, but the sanctions will not hurt Lockheed or Northrop. The real issue here is that the US continues to provoke China after 50 years of accepting Taiwan as part of China. I’m not saying what is right or wrong, but the fact of the matter is that the US is not the world police. We are a broke and broken nation that needs to focus on our domestic policies. Suddenly, all of our enemies are out to get us — China, Russia, North Korea — and the pro-war politicians are ready for this period of peace to be over. Everyone and everything outside the nation is now a threat. Never mind the invasion at the borders, inflation, rising public and private debt, etc.
Spokesperson Wu Qian claimed that the US was only trying to strengthen the US military-industrial complex. “US military aid and sales to Taiwan only nourish the US military-industrial complex while harming the security and well-being of Taiwan compatriots,” Qian noted. “In this regard, the People’s Liberation Army will, as always, take all necessary measures to resolutely counter it.” The military-industrial complex is in full swing and doesn’t need a global war; everything runs deeper.
Neocons on the left and right want to arm Taiwan. There is no shortage of war, but they are adamant on provoking China in order to start World War III. These Neocons mistakenly believe the Russia-Ukraine war will deter China from attacking Taiwan, but that is a blatant lie. If anything, the war in Ukraine has proved to China and Russia that they can establish their own alliances and no longer need to rely on the West.