China upset over US selling F16s to Taiwan, warns os of sanctions
China has warned the United States (U.S.) of sanctions on Lockheed Martin, a U.S. based aerospace and defence company, over proposed sale of F-16C / D Block 70 fighter jet planes to Taiwan.
The announcement comes after U.S. formally approved the sale of 66 F-16 fighter jets to Taiwan for U.S. $ 8 billion on Tuesday, i.e., August 20, 2019. The deal also includes 75 General Electric Co engines, as well as other systems. The potential sale comes amidst the heightened tensions between China and the U.S. over the on-going trade war.
Before the major announcement, the U.S. President – Donald Trump had said, “somebody had to take China on.” Speaking on the occasion, the U.S. Secretary of State – Mike Pompeo said, “Our actions are consistent with past US policy. We are simply following through on the commitments we’ve made to all of the parties.”
The Official twitter handle of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ROC (Taiwan) read, “Sincere thanks to @StateDept for notifying Congress of the sale of 66 #F16 Block 70 aircraft. The US$8 billion deal is a vote of confidence in #Taiwan-#US relations & will help us maintain cross-strait peace & defend our democracy.”
Sincere thanks to @StateDept for notifying Congress of the sale of 66 #F16 Block 70 aircraft. The US$8 billion deal is a vote of confidence in #Taiwan–#US relations & will help us maintain cross-strait peace & defend our democracy. JW https://t.co/77e2NlzWLi
— 外交部 Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ROC (Taiwan) 🇹🇼 (@MOFA_Taiwan) August 21, 2019
(via @LockheedMartin) pic.twitter.com/hHr67tC1Cm
Meanwhile, the Deputy Director of the Foreign Ministry Information Department of China – Geng Shuang has urged the U.S. to stop the arms sale to Taiwan.
The F-16 Block 70/72 is the latest and most advanced F-16 production configuration, combining numerous capability and structural upgrades. The F-16 is the world’s most successful, combat-proven multirole fighter. As of now, more than 3,000 operational F-16s are in service in 25 countries.
The arms sale, which is in line with Taiwan’s foreign policy and national security, will help in upgradation of Taiwan’s main battle tank fleet and will improve its air defence system. However, China believes that the F-16 fighter jets would enhance Taiwan’s ability to potentially conduct military operations in the Taiwan Strait, the narrow waterway that separates China from Taiwan.
It is to be noted that Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a state in East Asia, which has been ruled separately from China since the end of a civil war in 1949. But China considers it to be a part of its territory. China has increased the diplomatic and military pressure on Taipei since Tsai Ing-wen became the President of Taiwan in 2016. Tsai’s Democratic Progressive Party refuses to acknowledge that Taiwan is a part of ‘One China’.
Earlier in July 2019, China had also objected to a sale of 108 M1A2T Abrams tanks, 250 Stinger portable anti-aircraft missiles and related equipment and support by U.S. to Taiwan for U.S. $ 2 billion. For the records, U.S. has long been selling arms to Taiwan as a part of its 40 years old Taiwan Relations Act.
Enacted in 1979, the Act aims to help maintain peace, security, and stability in the Western Pacific and to promote the foreign policy of the United States by authorizing the continuation of commercial, cultural, and other relations between the people of the United States and the people on Taiwan, and for other purposes.
