Fri. Mar 29th, 2024

Washington DC, July 9: The US department of state has on Monday approved the arms sale to Taiwan worth USD 2.2 billion, the defence security cooperation agency said.

According to ANI news reports, the US state department was requested to make sales of 100 M1A2T Abrams tanks, 250 MANPAD Stinger missiles along with its other related equipment to Taiwan. The request was made by the Taipei Economic and CUlture Representative Office in the United States (TECRO). The proposed plan will amount to an additional USD 224 million to Taipei.

“This proposed sale of (108) M1A2 tanks will contribute to the modernization of the recipient’s main battle tank fleet, enhancing its ability to meet current and future regional threats and to strengthen its homeland defence … The total estimated program cost is USD 2 billion,” according to a released statement.

The development is likely to draw criticism from China, who considers Taiwan as its territory even through Taipei has declared independence since the 1949 civil war with mainland China.

Earlier in June, Taiwan’s defence ministry has asked for more than 1,500 Javelin, TOW anti-tank missiles, 250 shoulder-fired Stinger anti-aircraft missiles and 108 M1A2 Abrams main battled tanks, as per an official statement. The ministry has added Taipei’s request was under process as “normal.

China has stated it had some “serious concerns” with the development between the US and Taiwan.

In January, during an event to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the “Message to Compatriots in Taiwan” at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Chinese President Xi Jinping has said the reunification of Taiwan must come under China’s one-principle which will accept Taiwan as a part of China, an anathema to the supporters of Taiwan’s independence.

Taiwan’s ministry of foreign affairs (MOFA) said Jinping’s attempt pressuring Taiwan through the “1992 consensus” and Beijing’s “one China principle” highlights its ignorance over the fact that Taiwan has been globally recognized democracy, and that Taiwan citizens would only refuse to accept Beijing’s approach.

The “1992 consensus” was an agreement reached in 1992 between Chinese communist officials and then Kuomintang (KMT) government of Taiwan, where both sides of the Taiwan Strait would acknowledge that there is only “one China” with both sides free interpreting what “China” means.

Taiwan will never accept an offer for a talk session with China, who is determined to crush out Taiwan’s sovereignty. Taiwan also urged China to not misjudge the situation and take any of unilateral decision or action as Taiwan is already prepared in order to safeguards its sovereignty and dignity.

 

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