Beijing vows to defend ‘territorial integrity’ after Washington approved major arms deal with Taiwan
The foreign and defense ministries in Beijing issued harsh statements on Monday condemning the Biden administration’s approval of a new US arms sale to Taiwan. This deal, which is valued at $108million, includes technical assistance and parts of armored vehicles.
Beijing “demands” that the United States “immediately withdraw the above-mentioned arms sales plan to Taiwan,” as well as halt all other arms deals and cut military ties with the island, said Defense Ministry spokesman Colonel Tan Kefei. “Otherwise, the US side will be solely responsible for undermining the relationship between China and the US and the two militaries and the peace and stability of the Taiwan Strait.”
“The Chinese People’s Liberation Army will take all necessary measures to firmly defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and resolutely thwart any form of external interference and separatist attempts for ‘Taiwan independence’,”The colonel was also added.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin echoed this sentiment, saying that Washington’s arms supplies “gravely undermine China’s sovereignty and security interests, and severely harm China-US relations and peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.”
“China will continue to take resolute and strong measures to firmly defend its sovereignty and security interests,” Wang added.
Friday’s announcement by the Pentagon that the US State Department has approved the transaction valued at $108 million was made public. However, it has not yet been approved by Congress. The military aid package will include parts for tanks and other combat vehicles, as well as technical and logistical support services provided by the US government and its contractors, in order to enhance the Taiwanese military’s interoperability with American forces and other allies, according to the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency.
State Department spokesman Ned Price dismissed China’s concerns, claiming later on Monday that the US has certain obligations to supply Taiwan with the necessary means to “defend itself.”
“Under the Taiwan Relations Act, we make available to Taiwan defense articles and services necessary to enable Taiwan to maintain a sufficient self-defense capability. This has been done by successive administrations. It is entirely consistent with our One China policy,”Price.
Taiwan is governed by nationalists, who fled the mainland in 1949 to Taiwan after the end of the civil war. Beijing regards the 23.5 million-strong island as a part its territory under the One China policy.
China recently increased its aerial and maritime military activities around the island. They claimed that it was necessary to discourage terrorists. “collusion activities”Between “Taiwan independence forces”The US government.
Although Washington may be a supporter of the One China strategy on paper, it maintains close unofficial relationships with Taipei. This includes selling arms to Taiwan and encouraging Taipei’s push for its sovereignty. Beijing has repeatedly decried such contacts as provocations and as meddling in China’s internal affairs.
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