US approves USD619M arms sale to Taiwan, likely to escalate tensions with China
(MENAFN) The United States has approved the sale of USD619 million worth of munitions for F-16 fighter jets to Taiwan, including missiles and equipment to support the missiles. This decision is expected to further aggravate tensions between the U.S. and China, which claims Taiwan as its own territory. The State Department issued a statement on Wednesday night stating that it had approved sales of AGM-88 anti-radiation missiles, air-to-air missiles, and launchers that will be used with the F-16s.
Taiwan, which is unofficially supported by the U.S., already has a fleet of F-16s purchased from the U.S. China and the U.S. are experiencing their most heightened tensions in years, with the U.S. providing support for the self-governed island, including visits by high-ranking politicians, and other issues, such as the suspected Chinese spy balloon that crossed the U.S. before being shot down last month.
The Chinese government considers Taiwan as part of its territory, which it is willing to bring under its control by force if necessary. As such, China has been increasing its military and diplomatic harassment towards Taiwan, causing concern for the island nation. The two sides have been separated since the civil war in 1949, and China's Communist Party has never governed the island.
The United States is Taiwan's primary supplier of military equipment, and China has opposed previous sales, imposing sanctions and other actions in response. With this latest arms sale, it is likely that tensions between the U.S. and China will escalate even further, as the sale is seen as a direct challenge to China's claim to Taiwan as its own territory.
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