US Promises Billions in Taiwan Arms, Citing 'Self-Defense'
Trump officials, according to the New York Times, have announced over $11 billion in new arms sales to Taiwan. The stated rationale? Bolstering Taiwan's 'defensive capabilities' against potential aggression. This isn't the first time; the U.S. cleared $2.2 billion in arms sales to Taiwan in 2019, followed by an additional $1.8 billion weeks later, always under the guise of maintaining a 'free and
open Indo-Pacific.' One might wonder if 'free and open' mainly applies to the bottom line of American arms manufacturers. These deals are invariably touted as essential for deterring conflict and promoting stability, a common narrative applied to nearly every U.S. arms sale globally. Yet, history consistently shows this strategy often fuels proxy conflicts and regional arms races, rather than
preventing them. Remember the 'defensive' weapons sent to various Middle Eastern states over decades? How many of those ended up destabilizing their neighbors, or worse, in the hands of actors far removed from their intended recipients? It's almost as if the primary goal isn't peace, but continuous market expansion for Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and their well-compensated friends in Washington.