The United States approved $11 billion-worth of arms to Taiwan, Taipei said Thursday, announcing one of the largest weapons packages for the island and prompting an angry backlash from China.<\/p>\n
While Washington is traditionally Taiwan’s biggest arms supplier, remarks by US President Donald Trump raised doubts about his willingness to defend the democratic island.<\/p>\n
Taiwan has ramped up its defence spending in the past decade as China has intensified military pressure, but Trump’s administration has pushed the island to do more to protect itself.<\/p>\n
The arms sale announced on Thursday, which still needs US Congressional approval, would be the second since Trump returned to office in January, after a $330 million sale of parts in November.<\/p>\n
The latest, much bigger cache features HIMARS rocket systems, howitzers, anti-tank missiles, drones and other equipment, according to Taipei’s foreign ministry.<\/p>\n
“This is the second arms sale to Taiwan announced during the Trump administration’s second term, once again demonstrating the US’s firm commitment to Taiwan’s security,” Taipei’s foreign ministry said.<\/p>\n
Beijing reacted angrily on Thursday, strongly condemning the sale announcement.<\/p>\n
“China urges the United States to abide by the one-China principle… and immediately stop the dangerous actions of arming Taiwan,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun told a press conference, adding that Beijing would take “resolute and forceful measures” to safeguard its territorial integrity.<\/p>\n
Beijing claims Taiwan as part of its territory under the one-China principle, and has threatened to use force to bring the self-ruled island under its control.<\/p>\n
The potential size of the sale rivals the $18 billion authorised under former US president George W. Bush in 2001, although that was ultimately downsized after commercial negotiations.<\/p>\n
Bush ended up selling $15.6 billion-worth of weapons to Taiwan over his eight years in office.<\/p>\n
During Trump’s first term, the United States approved $10 billion in arms sales to Taiwan, including $8 billion for fighter jets.<\/p>\n
The latest package is expected to soon receive a Congressional rubber stamp, given the cross-party consensus on Taiwan’s defence.<\/p>\n
Taiwan maintains its own defence industry but the island would be massively outgunned in a conflict with China, and so remains heavily reliant on US arms.<\/p>\n
The latest arms sale shows Washington has continued to assist Taipei in “rapidly building robust deterrence capabilities”, Taiwan’s defence ministry said in a statement.<\/p>\n
Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te’s government has vowed to ramp up defence spending to more than three percent of the GDP next year and five percent by 2030, following US pressure.<\/p>\n
It is also plans to seek up to NT$1 trillion in special funding to upgrade the island’s air defence systems and increase capacity to produce and store ammunition.<\/p>\n
The defence spending proposals need backing from the island’s opposition-controlled parliament before they can take effect.<\/p>\n
China deploys military aircraft and warships around Taiwan on a near-daily basis, which analysts describe as “grey-zone” operations — coercive tactics that fall short of an act of war.<\/p>\n
Taipei’s defence ministry said 40 Chinese military aircraft, including fighters, choppers and drones, as well as eight naval vessels, were detected around Taiwan in a 24-hour period ending early Thursday.<\/p>\n
On Tuesday, Beijing’s third and newest aircraft carrier, the Fujian, sailed through the Taiwan Strait, according to Taipei.<\/p>\n
burs-dhw\/je\/fox<\/p>\n
\u00a9 Agence France-Presse<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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