A yearly US defense budget bill was criticized by China for exaggerating the "China danger," but Taiwan welcomed it, saying it showed US support for the self-governing island that China claims should be brought under its control.
In a statement published online on Saturday, the Foreign Ministry condemned and vehemently opposed the US decision, calling the new law a major political provocation that flagrantly meddles in China's domestic affairs.
The $858 billion military bill was approved by the president on Friday in Washington. As lawmakers seek to combat inflation and increase the country's military parity with China and Russia, it contains nearly $45 billion more than Biden had proposed.
The bill also repealed a Covid 19 vaccination requirement for US troops.
The law authorizes stronger security co-operation with Taiwan in the Indo-Pacific area and mandates more co-operation with India on burgeoning defense technology, preparedness, and logistics.
The US Congress was congratulated for "demonstrating the enormous priority it pays to Taiwan-US ties and boosting Taiwan's security," according to a statement from the Taiwan Foreign Ministry.
China protests US backing for Taiwan, a 23 million-person island off its east coast. The two fell out during the civil war that resulted in the communists' 1949 ascension to power in China.
The US defense bill "seriously impacts peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait," according to a statement from the Chinese Foreign Ministry. After Nancy Pelosi, the speaker of the US House, visited Taiwan in August, China conducted significant military drills in the area. This week, the Chinese military made a huge show of force by sending 39 planes and three ships in the direction of Taiwan.