US gives Taiwan weapons from its own stockpile for the first time

The US has announced a military aid package worth $345 million for Taiwan, marking the first time it will send arms directly to Taipei.

The White House said the package would include defence, education and training for the Taiwanese and draw weapons from US stockpiles.

The package is intended to help Taiwan counter China. Washington hopes to provide Taipei with enough weapons to defend itself so that the price of any invasion would be too high.

According to CNN, Lt Col Martin Meiners, a Pentagon spokesman, the aid “includes self-defence capabilities that Taiwan will...