China is highly angered after the United States revealed a planned arms deal between Taiwan and the United States.
China is highly angered after the United States revealed a planned arms deal between Taiwan and the United States.
China has said it will take unspecified countermeasures if the $1.6 billion arms sale to Taiwan is not cancelled immediately.
After US President Joe Biden approved a deal to sell $US1.1 billion worth of arms to Taiwan, China has warned it will take "counter-measures" if America doesn't "immediately revoke" the deal.
China has long been opposed to the sale, and says it will take any necessary steps to stop it from going through.In response to the escalating tensions between China and Taiwan and its allies, US Vice President Biden announced a deal to sell 60 anti-ship missiles and 100 air-to-air missiles to Taiwan.
China will resolutely take necessary countermeasures in light of this development. The Biden administration was adamant that the package complies with the US one-China policy.
.jpg "China is highly angered after the United States revealed a planned arms deal between Taiwan and the United States.")
Taiwan soldiers stand on a US-made M110A2 self-propelled howitzer, which is a powerful weapon that can help protect their country. The United States has announced that it will sell $1.6 billion in arms to Taiwan. Picture: Sam Yeh/AFP
The sale includes $US355 million in Harpoon air-to-sea missiles, $US85 million in Sidewinder air-to-air missiles, and a hefty $US655 million in logistics support for Taiwan's surveillance radar program.
Taiwan needs the equipment included in the package in order to maintain a sufficient self-defense capability.After announcing the deal, Mr Pengyu issued a series of angry tweets accusing the US of meddling in their affairs. "Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinese territory," he wrote. “The United States is interfering in China's internal affairs and undermining China's sovereignty and security interests by selling arms to the Taiwan region.
"This goes against international law and the basic principles of international relations, the one-China principle and the three Sino-US joint communiques," he said.
US President Joe Biden made the announcement on Friday, local time. Picture: Win McNamee/Getty Images/AFP
"It sends the wrong signals to pro-Taiwan independence separatists and jeopardizes China-US ties as well as peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait."
He then asked the US to halt the deal.
"China is vehemently opposed to this." China urges the US side to honor its commitment, strictly adhere to the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiques, halt arms sales to and military interactions with Taiwan, and immediately revoke relevant arms sales to Taiwan, lest it harm China-US relations and the peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait."
During regular operations, the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Chancellorsville (CG 62) transits the East China Sea in the Taiwan Strait. Picture: Justin Stack/US Navy/AFP
The White House, on the other hand, blamed China for the sale, claiming that Beijing's heightened military posture in the region meant Taiwan required stronger defenses.
According to The Guardian, White House senior director for China and Taiwan Laura Rosenberger stated on Friday that China "continues to increase pressure on Taiwan - including through increased military air and sea presence around Taiwan - seeking to change the status quo in the Taiwan Strait, and we are providing Taiwan with what it needs to maintain its self-defense capabilities."
The US Congress has yet to vote on the arms deal, but it is unlikely to reject it because Congress is solidly pro-Taiwan.
The agreement comes one month after Pelosi's visit.
The action comes a month after U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi enraged China with her travel to Taiwan, where she was the highest-ranking US official to visit the island in decades.
During her August visit, US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi met Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen. Picture: Handout/Taiwan Presidential Office/AFP
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