Joe Biden’s administration has approved two potential arms sales totaling $440 million to Taiwan amid ongoing tensions between the autonomous island and China, the US State Department announced Thursday.
One sale, totaling about $332 million, includes 30mm ammunition and related equipment. The other US$108 million is for spare parts and repairs for vehicles and weapons for the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office – Taiwan’s diplomatic post in the United States.
“This proposed sale serves U.S. national, economic, and security interests by supporting the recipient’s continued efforts to modernize its Armed Forces and maintain a credible defensive capability,” the State Department said.
Washington has long provided arms to the island under the terms of the Taiwan Relations Act, and there is bipartisan support for supplying arms to the island.
However, the move provoked an emphatic response from Beijing, which sees Taiwan as part of China and has said it is “firmly opposed” to military interaction between the US and Taiwan.
“The US must respect the one-China principle and the three joint communiques. It must stop selling weapons to Taiwan, creating tensions and undermining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait,” Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning told a news conference on Friday. press.
In return, Taiwan’s Ministry of Defense thanked the United States for potential sales.
“China’s ever-expanding military and gray zone oppression pose a grave threat to Taiwan. US arms sales this time not only help enhance Taiwan’s ability to respond to China’s military threat, but also strengthen our defense resilience and satisfy our training needs.”
Source: CNN Brasil
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