Despite fervent Chinese objections, the Biden administration recently approved a $500 million sale of arms to Taiwan as it ramps up military assistance to the island.
On Wednesday, the State Department said it had signed off on selling infrared search tracking systems and related equipment for advancing F-16 fighter jets. The sale includes infrared systems, equipment and test support, spare parts, and computer equipment, said the department.
Although it is a modest deal compared to previous weapons sales, the move is likely to draw harsh criticism from Beijing, which regards Taiwan’s self-governing as constituting a renegade province and refuses to rule out the use of force to reunify it with the mainland.
“This proposed sale serves U.S. national, economic, and security interests by supporting the recipient’s continuing efforts to modernize its armed forces and to maintain a credible defensive capability,” said the State Department.
“The proposed sale will improve the recipient’s capability to meet current and future threats by contributing to the recipient’s abilities to defend the airspace, provide regional security, and increase interoperability with the United States through its F-16 program,” the statement said.
The announcement came hours after Tsai Ing-wen, Taiwan’s president, renewed a pledge to strengthen Taiwan’s self-defense as she visited a war memorial from the last time China and Taiwan battled. Tsai commemorated those who died when visiting the outlying islands of Kinmen, where the conflict was fought 65 years ago.
Wednesday’s State Department announcement also follows an angry Chinese reaction to Taiwanese Vice President William Lai’s transit through the United States on his way to and from an official visit to Paraguay last week.
In the past few years, China has ramped up its military activity in the skies and waters around Taiwan, sending navy vessels and fighter jets near the island or to ring it.
Biden administration approved two potential arms sales
The Biden administration has approved two potential arms sales that total $440 million to Taiwan amid continuing tensions between Beijing and the island, announced the State Department.
One sale, which totaled about $332 million, includes 30mm ammunition and other equipment, and the additional $108 million is for repair and spare parts for weapons and vehicles to the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office — which is Taiwan’s diplomatic outpost in the U.S. — said the State Department.
“This proposed sale serves U.S. national, economic, and security interests by supporting the recipient’s continuing efforts to modernize its armed forces to maintain a credible defensive capability,” said the State Department.
Washington has been a long-term provider of arms to the island under the terms of the Taiwan Relations Act, and there is bipartisan support for supplying Taiwan with more weapons. However, the move prompted a harsh response from Beijing, which views Taiwan as part of China and said it “firmly opposes” military interaction between Taiwan and the U.S.
“The U.S. should abide by the one-China principle and the three joint communiques. It should cease selling weapons to Taiwan, creating tensions and undermining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait,” said Mao Ning, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, on Friday in a regular press briefing. Taiwan’s Defense Ministry thanked the United States for the sales.
“China’s ever-expanding military and grey zone oppression have posed a severe threat to Taiwan,” said the ministry. “The U.S. arms sales this time not only helps to build Taiwan’s capacity in responding to China’s military threat, but also strengthens our defense resilience and satisfies our training needs.”
