The US government has announced a $1 billion sale to Taiwan of military equipment, including 60 anti-ship missiles and 100 air-to-air missiles.
The sale also includes a $655 million logistics support package for Taiwan’s surveillance radar program, which provides air defense alerts.
According to the State Department, the US aims to strengthen Taiwan’s military position and help the country “maintain sufficient self-defense capability.”
Speaking of the arms deal, spokesman for the Chinese Embassy in Washington Liu Pengyu said it “seriously threatens China-US relations and cross-strait peace and stability.”
“China will resolutely take legitimate and necessary countermeasures as the situation develops,” he added.
Last week, the US Posted two warships through the Taiwan Strait for the first time since the Speaker of the House of Representatives nancy pelosis visit to the island.
These ships traversed a corridor in the straits beyond the territorial sea of a coastal state.
Also read: US lawmakers visit Taiwan days after Pelosi trip, risking rising tensions with China
China has expressed its displeasure with Taiwan’s contacts with foreign governments, particularly US officials.
After Pelosi’s recent visit to Taiwan, China answered sending a few missiles, warships and fighter planes into the seas and skies around Taiwan for several days.
The US government has urged China to “cease its military, diplomatic and economic pressure on Taiwan and instead engage in meaningful dialogue with Taiwan.”
The White House executive director for China and Taiwan Laura Rosenberg said on Friday that we are providing Taiwan with what it needs to maintain its self-defense capabilities while China “continues to increase pressure on Taiwan and seek to change the status quo across the Taiwan Strait.”
Photo: 7th US Fleet
