In a strong-worded response on Wednesday, China criticized the recent $95 billion U.S. military assistance package to Taiwan, labeling it as a move that pushes the self-governing island into a "dangerous situation." The aid package, which was passed by the U.S. Senate late Tuesday, includes support for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, but it is the section allocated to Taiwan that drew Beijing's ire.

China, which considers Taiwan as a part of its own territory, has repeatedly expressed its disapproval of any external support received by the island nation. The Taiwan Affairs Office in mainland China accused the United States of violating its commitments to China and sending a "wrong signal" to pro-independence forces in Taiwan. The office further alleged that Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party was willingly acting as a pawn to contain China, potentially placing Taiwan in a precarious position.

Meanwhile, Taiwan's President-elect Lai Ching-te welcomed the assistance package, emphasizing how it would strengthen deterrence against authoritarianism in the West Pacific region. Lai asserted that the aid would also help ensure peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, ultimately boosting confidence in the region.

The passage of the aid package was buoyed by broad congressional support, as the funding request had been put forth by President Biden last summer. However, congressional leaders had to navigate opposition from conservatives who questioned the involvement of the U.S. in foreign wars and argued for prioritizing issues such as the surge of migration at the U.S.-Mexico border.

The military assistance to Taiwan encompasses a wide range of parts and services aimed at maintaining and upgrading Taiwan's military capabilities. Additionally, Taiwan has separately signed multi-billion-dollar contracts for advanced fighter jets, main battle tanks, and rocket systems from the U.S. Furthermore, Taiwan has been expanding its own defense industry, constructing submarines and trainer jets as part of its strategy to counter the growing capabilities of the Chinese navy.

China has been increasing its military presence around Taiwan, conducting daily incursions into the island's waters and airspace. While only a limited number of Chinese military aircraft and navy vessels were found operating around Taiwan at the time of this report, it is not uncommon for China to deploy a larger force during periods of heightened tensions.

The erroneous reporting of an $8 billion aid figure for Taiwan has been corrected, clarifying that the mentioned amount is instead allocated for countering China in the Indo-Pacific region, which includes aid to Taiwan.

As tensions continue to rise between China and Taiwan, the recent U.S. military assistance package has further aggravated the situation. The move is seen as a significant endorsement of Taiwan's defense capabilities and its desire to resist Chinese influence, ultimately intensifying the geopolitical dynamics in the region.