conflicts
China threatens countermeasures over US arms to Taiwan
Taiwanese soldiers operate an anti-aircraft gun at a base in southeastern Hualien County. photo
© Johnson Lai/AP/dpa
$1.1 billion: That’s the most recently approved US arms exports to Taiwan. Beijing doesn’t like that at all – they see the democratically governed island as part of the People’s Republic.
China has threatened countermeasures over the announced sale of more US arms to Taiwan. In view of the developments, China will “resolutely take legitimate and necessary countermeasures,” said Liu Pengyu, spokesman for the Chinese Embassy in Washington. He called on the US government to halt arms sales and military interactions with Taiwan “so as not to further damage China-US relations and peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.”
The US had previously approved new arms exports to Taiwan worth $1.1 billion amid tensions with China, according to media reports. The package includes 60 Harpoon anti-ship missiles and 100 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles, as well as support for an anti-aircraft radar warning system. The new deliveries are justified by the government of US President Joe Biden with increasing pressure from China on the democratic island republic, for example with an increased military presence in the air and at sea.
China sees the democratically governed island as part of the People’s Republic. Taiwan, on the other hand, sees itself as independent. A visit by the Speaker of the US House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, to Taiwan in early August led to serious tensions with China. Beijing began large-scale maneuvers. A sea and air blockade and a possible conquest were practiced. Nevertheless, other delegations with US politicians traveled to Taiwan shortly afterwards. A Bundestag delegation also wants to go there this fall.