US State Department approves massive deal that includes billions in Himars and howitzer equipment, drones and software.
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US State Department approves massive deal that includes billions in Himars and howitzer equipment, drones and software
Beijing has condemned Washington for its decision to sell about US$11 billion in weapons to
Taiwan, calling it a grave violation of its sovereignty and a dangerous signal to separatist forces.
Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) spokesman Chen Binhua said on Thursday that the sale amounted to “flagrant interference in China’s internal affairs”.
Chen said it also “gravely violates” the one-China principle and the provisions of the three China-US joint communiques, particularly the August 17 communique – a 1982 agreement in which the US pledged to gradually reduce arms sales to Taiwan.
“[The decision] severely undermines China’s sovereignty and security interests and sends erroneous signals to separatist forces,” he said.
“We urge the United States to immediately cease its policy of arming Taiwan and to stop condoning and supporting separatist forces advocating Taiwan independence.
“We urge the United States to exercise the utmost caution in handling the Taiwan issue.”
Chen also rebuked the ruling Democratic Progressive Party in Taiwan for “stubbornly pursuing independence” by relying on the US and through military means. This would turn Taiwan into a “powder keg” and “arsenal”, bringing “profound calamity” upon Taiwan people, he warned.
The US State Department’s approval of the massive arms package, reportedly the biggest deal of its kind to the island, was announced during a nationally televised address by President Donald Trump late on Wednesday. The sale will also need to be approved by the US Congress.
The deal covers the US$4.05 billion sale of
82 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems and related equipment, including 420 Army Tactical Missile Systems missiles with a range of up to 300km (186 miles).
In addition, Washington has agreed to sell the island 60 self-propelled howitzer systems and related equipment, valued at over US$4 billion, as well as more than US$1 billion in drones.
Other items in the package include more than US$1 billion in military software, Javelin and TOW missiles worth over US$700 million, US$96 million in helicopter spare parts, and refurbishment kits for Harpoon missiles valued at US$91 million.
The sale also prompted a fiery response from Beijing’s foreign ministry, with spokesman Guo Jiakun accusing the US of violating the one-China principle.
Guo said the action would gravely undermine China’s sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity, as well as severely disrupt peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.
He said the US’ use of military means to prop up separatism would only end up backfiring, and that its attempts to contain China through Taiwan were “doomed to fail”.
Guo said Taiwan’s separatist forces were “squandering the hard-earned money of ordinary citizens on arms purchases” but this would not avert their inevitable downfall. “Instead, it will only accelerate the push towards a perilous state of military confrontation across the Taiwan Strait,” he added.
However, Taiwan’s defence ministry thanked Washington for the decision, saying it would help the island maintain “sufficient self-defence capabilities” and enable strong deterrence.
Beijing views Taiwan as part of China to be reunited by force if necessary. Most countries, including the US – the island’s biggest international partner – do not recognise Taiwan as an independent state. But Washington is opposed to any attempt to take the island by force and is legally bound to supply it with weapons to defend itself.
The deal was announced a week after Beijing repeated its opposition to any form of
military contact between the US and Taiwan, warning Washington against sending any “wrong signals” to the island’s independence forces.
