Approval of United States for $500 million arms sale to Taiwan escalates tensions in Pacific
The approval of the United States’ $500 million arms sale to Taiwan has escalated tensions in the Pacific. It has been reported that China has dispatched 32 fighter jets and 9 warships to the region since yesterday.
In a recent written statement, the US announced its approval for the sale of F-16 infrared search and track systems and related equipment worth $500 million to Taiwan.
CHINA SHOWS HARSH REACTION
Although the US Department of State claimed that the mentioned equipment would not alter the military balance in the region, China’s reaction has been strong. Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin called on Washington to “immediately withdraw the decision,” and the spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of National Defense, Zhang Xiaogang, emphasized that China was staunchly against the arms sale, characterizing it as a “grave interference” in the country’s internal affairs. Xiaogang used the phrase “a vile action violating the One China principle” to describe the deal.
TAIWAN ON ALERT: MISSILE SYSTEMS ACTIVATED
The Associated Press (AP) news agency reported that China had sent 32 fighter jets and 9 warships to the region. The Ministry of National Defense of Taiwan announced that within a 24-hour period from 06:00 yesterday to 06:00 today, 32 jets and 9 warships from the Chinese navy had been detected in their respective areas. According to the ministry’s statement, 20 of the fighter jets entered the country’s Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ). After China’s violation, Taiwan went on high alert and activated missile systems.
SOVEREIGNTY DISPUTE BETWEEN CHINA AND TAIWAN
While Beijing asserts that Taiwan is a part of China, Taiwan claims to be an “independent countr y.”The Chinese government aims to take control of Taiwan under the pretext of “peaceful reunification” and has indicated that it won’t shy away from using force to achieve this goal.
Furthermore, Beijing considers it a “violation of sovereignty” when other countries establish official relations with Taiwan.
