The U.S. government Wednesday announced a $1.8 billion arms sale to Taiwan that if approved by Congress would send high-profile defense items such as warships and surface-to-air missiles to help bolster the small island nation’s military.
The sale is the first offered to Taiwan in four years and includes $375 million worth of Amphibious Assault Vehicles and two decommissioned U.S. Navy Perry-class frigates worth $190 million. Additional items include Javelin anti-tank missiles, 250 FIM-92 Stinger Man Portable Air Defense Systems (MANPADS), and an assortment of other weapons such as CIWS (sea-whiz) anti-ship missile defense systems. Aside from lethal hardware, the sale also includes a number of datalink systems that will allow for intelligence sharing.
The Chinese government has consistently voiced concerns about Taiwan’s purchase of U.S. arms.
“Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory,” said China’s vice foreign minister Zheng Zeguan on Wednesday, according to Xinhua. “China strongly opposes the U.S. arms sale to Taiwan.”
He also said the arms sale violates international law and harms China’s sovereignty and security interests.
“To safeguard our national interests, China has decided to take necessary measures, including imposing sanctions against the companies involved in the arms sale,” Zheng said. “No one can shake the firm will of the Chinese government and people to defend their national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and to oppose foreign interference.”
Dave McKeeby, a State Department spokesman, said the sale is consistent with the United States’ support for Taiwan to defend itself under the Taiwan Relations Act and is consistent with Taiwan’s defense needs.
Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle have already come out in favor of the transfer. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, lauded the deal. The last major arms sale to Taiwan was in 2011 and included more than $5 billion in upgrade kits for Taiwan’s aging fleet of F-16 fighters.
