Beijing confirms its strong opposition to the deal and demands its cancellation

Washington announces $1.1 billion arms deal to Taiwan

Chinese military helicopters fly near Taiwan.

AFP

The United States announced a new arms deal worth $1.1 billion to Taiwan, which China considers an integral part of its territory, while Beijing announced its strong opposition to the deal, and demanded its cancellation.

This new arms sale comes a month after US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan, in a move that at the time angered Beijing, which, following the visit, launched the most important military maneuvers in its history around the island.

The US government approved this deal with Taipei, which includes 60 Harpoon missiles, capable of sinking warships ($355 million), and 100 short-range Sidewinder missiles ($85.6 million), capable of intercepting missiles or unmanned aircraft. A pilot, and a maintenance contract for the Taiwanese radar system worth 665 million, according to what the US State Department said in a statement.

In order to complete this deal, you must obtain congressional approval, and that approval is almost certain.

The US State Department stressed that these sales "serve the economic and national security interests of the United States by supporting Taiwan's efforts to modernize its armed forces."

It is the largest US arms sale to Taiwan since Joe Biden took office in January 2021.

Since 2010, the United States has notified Congress of more than $35 billion in arms sales to Taiwan, the department added.

The ministry noted that these arms sales are essential to Taiwan's security, and Washington will continue to work with the defense industry to support this goal.

"We call on Beijing to end its military, diplomatic and economic pressure on Taiwan and instead enter into dialogue with Taipei," she said, adding, "The United States continues to support the peaceful resolution of the issue, in line with the wishes and interests of the Taiwan people."

The announcement of the deal came a day after Taiwanese soldiers deployed on a small island off the coast of mainland China shot down an unidentified drone, after it breached a restricted area, according to the Taiwanese army.

Beijing immediately demanded that Washington cancel the deal, expressing its strong opposition to it, through a spokesman for the Chinese Embassy in Washington, Liu Bingyu.

In a statement, the spokesperson said, China calls on the United States to immediately cancel arms sales to Taiwan, lest it further affect relations with the United States, as well as peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.

He added that China will firmly take legitimate and necessary countermeasures in light of the emerging situation.

In addition, the Taiwan Defense Ministry said that two Chinese fighter planes yesterday crossed the center line of the Taiwan Strait, which is usually an unofficial barrier separating the two sides.

The ministry added that it has detected a total of four aircraft and five Chinese ships operating around Taiwan.

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