Not long after, Taiwan's military submitted for legislation an $8.8-billion special budget to modernize its aging arsenal. Beijing has mastered the game of brinkmanship, and is apparently playing it again. It has constantly threatened to use military force in its stand-off with Taiwan, but stops short of starting a shooting war. Trade between the Philippines and Taiwan totaled $8.25 billion in 2019, making us Taiwan's 14th largest trading partner. Biden was referring to the Nixonian one-China doctrine, in which Washington diplomatically recognizes Beijing as long as China leaves Taiwan alone.

Source: Manila Times October 07, 2021 16:07 UTC