The US is heading to take the biggest step to provoke China
The administration of US President Joe Biden plans to ask Congress to approve a $1.1 billion arms sale to Taiwan, including 60 anti-ship missiles and 100 air-to-air missiles, amid escalating tension with China, Politico newspaper reported, citing sources.
China conducted its largest war games around the democratically governed island following a visit by US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi this month.
Beijing hasn’t ruled out the use of force to bring Taiwan under its control.
On Monday, China dismissed Taiwan’s complaints about repeated flights of Chinese drones near islands controlled by Taipei, calling them unworthy excitement?
This angered Taipei, who replied, “There is an old Chinese saying that people who aren’t invited are called thieves”.
The Biden administration and American lawmakers emphasize their continued support for the Taipei government.
The focus will be on supporting Taiwan’s military systems and fulfilling existing orders, rather than providing the island with new capabilities that are likely to inflame already high tension with China, according to three sources who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue.
The White House didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment on the Politico report.
In turn, the spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington, Lu Binoyi, said on Tuesday, that Beijing calls on the United States to refrain from selling weapons to Taiwan, and to stop contacting with it through the military line to avoid increasing tension in the region.
Commenting on news of Washington’s intention to sell Taiwan $1.1 billion in arms, the spokesman stressed that “the United States’ sale of arms to Taiwan seriously violates the one-China principle and the provisions of three Sino-US joint statements,” adding that it “encourages pro-Taipei separatist forces and escalates tensions in the Taiwan Strait region”.
On April 6, the United States approved the sale of weapons and services worth $95 million to Taiwan to help maintain a US-made missile defense system on the island, explaining that this includes equipment, training, and other items to support the Patriot air defense system.
A similar $100 million deal to provide services to Taiwan and sell equipment to support, maintain and improve the Patriot air defense system was approved in early February.
Regarding the tense relations between Washington and Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said on Monday that “the United States is constantly flexing its muscles, by sending warships to the Taiwan Strait, under the pretext of freedom of navigation, which deliberately undermines peace and stability in the region”.
