US to sell cruise missiles that can reach China to Taiwan
The Americans recently finalized a massive purchase contract for 66 next-generation F-16 fighters, which can be upgraded to 90 aircraft.
AP Photo / Wally Santana, File
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Washington announced this Wednesday, October 21, that it had approved the sale to Taiwan of 135 Slam-ER coastal defense missiles, which have sufficient range to reach China, for an estimated amount of $ 1 billion.
Publicity
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With
Franck Alexandre,
journalist specializing in defense issues
This new weapon sale immediately aroused the ire of Beijing.
"
It will have a major impact in Sino-US relations
," said the spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
If China has always considered Taiwan as a renegade province, to return to its fold, in recent months the rhetoric has become more warlike.
And to show that these are not empty words, Chinese forces have in recent weeks increased exercises in the strait that separates Taiwan from the Asian continent.
China has also sent planes into Taiwanese airspace.
A real show of force, since Beijing has deployed long-range bombers capable of carrying cruise missiles as well as nuclear bombs in their bunkers.
In turn, the Pentagon is therefore putting pressure on its Chinese rival.
Because the notifications sent to the US Congress by the State Department relate in particular to the sale of long-range air-to-surface missiles produced by Boeing.
American parliamentarians, the vast majority in solidarity with Taiwan, will probably not oppose this delivery.
US arms sales in Taipei are regular.
Washington had already authorized the sale to Taiwan of around 100 Abrams battle tanks and 250 Stinger surface-to-air missiles last year.
Strategic priority
The sale of 135 of these missiles "
serves the economic and national security interests of the United States by helping [Taiwan] to modernize its armed forces and maintain a credible defense capability
," the State Department said in announcing this decision.
The Americans, who consider it a strategic priority to counter the rise of Chinese influence in the region, have also decided to sell the Taiwanese tactical rocket launchers for $ 436 million and imaging equipment intended for reconnaissance. airline for $ 367 million, bringing the total amount of approved transactions to more than $ 1.8 billion.
The Taiwanese Ministry of Defense for its part declared that these weapons would help Taiwan "
to build credible combat capabilities
".
The announced sale does not include the MQ9 Reaper drones, which Taipei has also reportedly requested.
US sales and Chinese threats
The Standoff Land Attack Missile Expanded Response (Slam-ER) air-to-surface missile has a maximum range of 270 km, greater than the width of the Taiwan Strait that separates the island from China.
However, Beijing considers Taiwan as part of its territory and regularly threatens to use force in the event of a formal proclamation of independence in Taipei or external intervention - especially American.
Taiwan will also be able to purchase 11 Himars systems (High mobility artillery rocket system), a multiple rocket launcher mounted on a truck, and related weaponry, as well as 6 MS-110 reconnaissance pods, imaging equipment intended to enhance the capabilities. Taiwanese aviation reconnaissance.
Trump administration steps up
Washington severed diplomatic relations with Taipei in 1979 to recognize Beijing, but remains the island's most powerful ally and its number one arms supplier.
President Donald Trump's administration has accelerated arms sales to the island in recent years, which recently finalized a massive purchase contract for 66 next-generation F-16 fighters, which can be upgraded to 90 aircraft.
White House National Security Advisor Robert O'Brien last week advised Taiwan to "
fortify
" itself to protect itself from invasion by China, while deeming the event unlikely before "
10 or 15 years
”.
Chinese Air Force Incursions
For its part, China has increased its military and diplomatic pressure on Taiwan since the election in 2016 of President
Tsai Ing-we
n, who rejects Beijing's view that the island is part of a "
one China
" .
In recent months, Taiwan has reported a sharp increase in the number of Chinese Air Force aircraft incursions into its Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ).
Last week, Beijing released
images of a military exercise simulating the invasion of territory similar to Taiwan,
including missile strikes.
►
To read also: China: the army reinforces its military defenses against Taiwan with the DF-17
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