The US has approved a potential $619 million sale of new weapons, including missiles for Taiwan’s F‑16 fleet, as Taiwan condemns the second day of a major Chinese air force airstrike.
The arms sale is likely to exacerbate already strained relations between Washington and Beijing. Beijing has repeatedly called for an end to such deals as illegitimate support for Taiwan, a democratically administered island that China claims as its own.
The Pentagon announced on the 22nd that the US State Department has approved a potential sale of arms and equipment to Taiwan. These include 200 advanced medium-range air-to-air missiles (AMRAAM) and AGM-88B HARM missiles capable of destroying 100 ground radar stations.
“This proposed sale will contribute to the recipient country’s air defense, regional security and ability to ensure interoperability with the United States,” the statement said.
Taiwan’s defense ministry said the missile “effectively defends its airspace to counter the threats and provocations of communist forces” and helps strengthen its defensive arsenal.
Raytheon Technologies and Lockheed Martin are prime contractors, he added. China has sanctioned both companies for arms sales to Taiwan.
China’s foreign ministry said it “strongly” opposed the planned sale, adding that the United States should end arms sales and military contacts with Taiwan.
The United States is legally obligated to supply Taiwan with defensive weapons, but maintains a policy of “strategic ambiguity” on how to respond to a Chinese invasion of the island. Since establishing diplomatic ties with China in 1979, the United States has recognized Beijing as China’s only legitimate government, but maintains unofficial ties with Taiwan.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has not ruled out the use of force to achieve the goal of “unification” with Taiwan. For the past three years or so, Taiwan has been frustrated by China’s intensifying military activity near the island to help Beijing claim sovereignty.
Taiwan reported on Thursday the second day of a major intrusion into its air defense identification zone by the Chinese Air Force, with the Ministry of Defense saying it had seen 21 aircraft in the past 24 hours.
Despite the ire of Taipei, China says its activities in the region are justified to protect its territory and to warn the United States against “colluding” with Taiwan.
According to a map released by Taiwan’s Ministry of Defense, 17 J‑10 fighters and four J‑16 fighters flew over the southwestern edge of Taiwan’s air defense identification zone.
Taiwan’s military is monitoring the situation, including the deployment of aircraft, the ministry added, using its usual language for its response to such Chinese incursions.
The ministry reported Wednesday that 19 Chinese military aircraft were flying in Taiwan’s air defense identification zone.
None of the planes crossed the sensitive center line of the Taiwan Strait. The line serves as an unofficial barrier between Taiwan and Taiwan, but the Chinese Air Force has flown over it nearly every day since it conducted war games near Taiwan last August.
Taiwan last reported a major crossing of the Central Line by Chinese military aircraft on Friday, involving 10 aircraft.
China has not commented on recent activities near Taiwan. In January, China announced that it had conducted combat exercises around the island to “resolutely counter provocations by external forces and Taiwanese separatist forces.”
No shots were fired and Chinese military aircraft are flying over the ADIZ, not Taiwan’s airspace.
The ADIZ is a wider area for Taiwan to monitor and patrol, giving it time to respond to any threat.
The Taiwanese government has repeatedly offered to meet with China, but says it will defend itself if attacked and that only the Taiwanese can decide their future.
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