[ad_1]
The approval comes as Beijing promises to sanction the US companies involved in the sale.
The U.S. State Department approved the potential sale of 100 Boeing-made Harpoon coastal defense systems to Taiwan in a deal worth up to $ 2.37 billion, the Pentagon said on Monday, just a day after China said it would impose sanctions on the US companies involved. in the sale of arms to the island.
The move came days after the State Department approved the possible sale of three more weapons systems to Taiwan, including sensors, missiles and artillery with a potential value of $ 1.8 billion.
In Beijing on Monday, a spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry told reporters that China will impose sanctions on Lockheed Martin, Boeing Defense, Raytheon and other US companies involved in Washington’s arms sales to Taiwan.
US State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said in a statement: “We deplore Beijing’s efforts to retaliate against US and foreign companies for their sales that support Taiwan’s legitimate self-defense requirements.”
Taiwan said it appreciated the confirmation of the latest US arms sale.
“It demonstrates the commitment of the United States government to the Taiwan Relations Act and the Six Guarantees,” the ministry wrote in a tweet. “It also allows the country to maintain strong self-defense and regional peace and stability.”
The United States and China are at odds on issues from trade to human rights to the disputed South China Sea, and President Donald Trump has made a tough approach to China a central element of his campaign for a second term in the elections. November 3.
The United States is required by law to provide Taiwan, an autonomous island that is one of Asia’s most vibrant democracies, with the means to defend itself.
Pressure through the strait
Beijing views Taiwan as part of its territory and has not ruled out the use of force to achieve reunification. Pressure on the island has intensified since Tsai Ing-wen was first elected president in 2016, and Taiwan says it has been forced to scramble its planes dozens of times this year due to activity by the Chinese air force.
Formal notifications to Congress Monday from the State Department covered the proposed sale of up to 100 Harpoon coastal defense systems, including 400 surface-launched RGM-84L-4 Harpoon Block II missiles to serve as coastal defense cruise missiles. .
We welcome @Department of Statethe approval of a $ 2.37 billion arms sale to #Taiwan🇹🇼. The determination demonstrates the #US🇺🇸 the government’s commitment to #TaiwanRelationsAct Y #Six Guarantees. It also enables the country to maintain strong self-defense and regional peace and stability. https://t.co/3jYf4xrtz9
– Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of China (Taiwan) 🇹🇼 (@MOFA_Taiwan) October 27, 2020
Last week, the State Department sent notifications to Capitol Hill for the first tranche of arms sales that included truck-based rocket launchers made by Lockheed, Standoff Land Attack Missile Expanded Response missiles and related equipment made by Boeing and external sensor modules. for F-16 jets.
The formal notification gives Congress 30 days to object to any sale, but this is unlikely given the broad bipartisan support for the defense of Taiwan.
[ad_2]
