“This proposed sale will improve the recipient nation’s ability to meet current and future threats by maintaining the operational readiness of its aircraft, including the F-16 and C-130,” the Pentagon said in a statement.
Washington has formal diplomatic relations with Beijing but maintains informal ties with Taiwan, where it is the island’s most important arms supplier. The United States is legally obligated to provide Taiwan with the means to defend itself.
According to Reuters, the Taiwanese President’s Office noted that this arms sale was the first announced by the current administration, and expressed its gratitude to the US government for continuing its policy of regularizing arms sales to Taiwan and helping Taiwan strengthen its self-defense capabilities and resilience.
“The deepening security partnership between Taiwan and the United States is an important foundation for peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region,” presidential spokeswoman Karen Kuo said in a statement.
Taiwan’s Ministry of Defense said in a statement that the sale is expected to “take effect” within a month.
The ministry said the provision of parts will help maintain the readiness of the Air Force’s fighter jets, strengthen air defenses, strengthen defense capabilities and strengthen the island’s ability to respond to Chinese “gray zone” aggression.
The Chinese military conducts regular missions in the waters and air around Taiwan, which the Taipei government calls “gray zone” operations aimed at putting pressure on Taiwan but not leading to actual combat.
“The Taiwan issue is at the heart of China’s core interests and is the first red line that must not be crossed in China-US relations,” Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian told reporters in Beijing.
China claims Taiwan as its own territory and has not ruled out using force to seize control of the island. Taiwan’s government strongly opposes Beijing’s claims to sovereignty, insisting that only the Taiwanese people can decide their own future.
President Trump said that Chinese President Xi Jinping has told him that he will not invade Taiwan while Republican leadership is in office.
The announcement of the potential arms sale came after Trump and Xi met in South Korea late last month to secure a trade deal. Ahead of the meeting, there were concerns in Taipei that Mr. Trump had acted as if he were “selling out” Taiwan’s interests to Mr. Xi.
Master’s degree/PR