The United States on Thursday approved the sale of fighter jets and other aircraft parts to Taiwan for $330 million, the first such transaction since President Donald Trump took office in January, drawing thanks from Taipei and anger in Beijing.
“The proposed sale will enhance the receiver’s ability to meet current and future threats by maintaining the operability of its fleet of F-16s, C-130s and other aircraft,” the Pentagon said in a statement.
Washington maintains formal diplomatic relations with Beijing, but also unofficial relations with Taiwan, and is also its main arms supplier. The United States is required by law to provide Taiwan with the means to defend itself.
Taiwan’s presidential office, noting that this arms sale was the first announced by the current administration, thanked the US government for continuing the policy of regular arms sales to Taiwan and for supporting Taiwan in improving its self-defense capabilities and resilience.
“Deepening the security alliance between Taiwan and the United States is an important cornerstone for peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region,” presidential office spokeswoman Karen Kuo said in a statement.
The sales were expected to “take effect” within a month, Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said in a statement.
You may be interested in: Swiss manufacturer suffers consequences of auto sector slowdown and Trump tariffs
The US approves a possible arms sale to Taiwan worth $330 million, the first under Trump’s mandate
The supply of these parts will help maintain the operability of the air force fighters and reinforce air defenses, strengthen defensive resistance and improve the island’s ability to respond to China’s incursions into the “gray zone,” according to the ministry.
The Chinese military conducts regular missions in the waters and airspace surrounding Taiwan, which the Taipei government calls “gray zone” activities designed to put pressure on the island but falling short of actual combat.
China expressed its anger, as it always does with US arms sales to Taiwan.
“The Taiwan issue is the core of China’s fundamental interests and the first red line that should not be crossed in China-US relations,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian told reporters in Beijing.
China claims democratically governed Taiwan as its own and has not ruled out using force to take control of the island. The Taiwanese government strongly rejects Beijing’s sovereignty claims and asserts that only the Taiwanese people can decide their future.
Trump claims that Chinese President Xi Jinping has told him he will not invade Taiwan while the Republican leader is in office. Neither Xi nor the Chinese government has made such a promise publicly, and Reuters has not independently verified that they have done so privately.
The announcement of the possible arms sale comes after Trump and Xi met late last month in South Korea in an attempt to close a trade deal. Before the meeting, there were fears in Taipei that Trump had been sacrificing Taiwan’s interests to Xi.
With information from Reuters
Do you use Facebook more? Follow us to always be informed
