The arrival of US Stinger missiles to Taiwan ignites China’s furious
The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has warned that the sale of American weapons to Taiwan, describing that as “very wrong and dangerous step,” and that China will firmly protect its national sovereignty and territorial security.
The Chinese warning comes after information of the US FIM92 Stinger missiles shipment arrived on the island from the United States, according to the Chinese Global Times newspaper.
“The sale of US arms to Taiwan is a serious violation of the three Sino-US joint communiqués, undermines China’s sovereignty and security interests, and undermines peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait,” Mao Ning, spokeswoman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, said at a press conference.
“We warn once again the DPP authorities that attempts to rely on external forces to seek independence and reject reunification by force will only end in failure”.
Taiwanese media reported, citing defense officials in Taiwan, that arms sales worth $500 million had started recently, and that FIM92 Stinger missiles had arrived at Taoyuan Airport last Thursday.
The United States had announced the sale of FIM92 Stinger missiles to Taiwan in 2019.
The Chinese Global Times newspaper had revealed in the past few days that Taiwan had supplied its F16 fighter jets with new US air-to-air missiles, the AIM9X Sidewinder.
China opposes any official contacts of foreign countries with Taipei, and considers its sovereignty over the island indisputable.
Tensions have recently escalated between China on the one hand and the United States and Taiwan on the one hand, against the backdrop of official meetings between officials of the two countries, which angered Beijing, which warned that it would take firm and effective measures to protect national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Taiwan has been governed independently of mainland China since 1949, and Beijing views the island as its own province, while Taiwan asserts that it is a self-governing state but has stopped short of declaring independence.
