The People’s Republic of China has demanded that United States (U.S.) should immediately cancel the U.S. $ 2 billion arms sale to Taiwan, which has been recently approved by U.S. Department of States.
As per U.S. Defence Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), the deal includes 108 M1A2T Abrams tanks, 250 Stinger portable anti-aircraft missiles and related equipment and support. DSCA has also mentioned that the sale would not alter the basic military balance in the region. However, as per law, U.S. legislators have 30 days to oppose to the proposed sale.
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.
The move will further escalate the tensions between U.S. and China which were believed to be resolving after President of U.S. – Donald Trump and the President of China – Xi Jinping agreed to resume trade talks, during their meeting at the recently held G20 Summit at Osaka in Japan.
The Foreign Ministry Spokesperson of China – Geng Shuang said, “China urges the US to immediately cancel the planned arms sale and stop military relations with Taipei to avoid damaging Sino-US relations and harming peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.”
He further added, “Nobody should underestimate the Chinese government’s and people’s firm determination to defend the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and oppose foreign interference.”
A statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Taiwan read, “Taiwan stands in the frontline of China’s ambitious expansion and faces enormous threats and pressure from Beijing. This arms sale of M1A2 tanks and various missiles will help greatly to increase our defensive capabilities.”
The statement further said, “Situated in the frontline of China’s expanding military ambition, and facing its persistent pressure and threat, our purchase of M1A2T tanks, missiles and other equipment is highly significant and helpful in upgrading our defence capability.”
Speaking on the occasion, the Lieutenant General of the Taiwanese Army – Yang Hai-ming, said, “The M1A2 tanks are very reliable and will become an essential part of our ground defence. Having the M1A2 to replace our older tanks will quickly and effectively boost our defence capability.”
For the records, 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’.
Besides, Taiwan had signed deals with U.S. in the past also. These were announced in June 2017, September 2018 and April 2019 and included training and maintenance/logistics support, along with torpedoes, anti-radiation missiles and missile components. The completed deals were worth U.S. $ 500 million, U.S. $ 330 million and U.S. $ 1.42 billion respectively.
