US approves military sale to Taiwan, draws China’s ire

SINCE HIS ELECTION, TRUMP HAS APPROVED $1.3 BILLION IN ARMS SALES TO TAIWAN, AND HAS ENCOURAGED SENIOR U.S. OFFICIALS TO VISIT THE ISLAND.

BEIJING /TAIPEI: The US approved the sale of military equipment to Taiwan on Monday, drawing China’s ire as tensions escalate between the world’s two largest economies.

Taiwan welcomed the package, estimated by the Pentagon to be worth $330 million, which was proposed by its government last year and includes spare parts for F-16, C-130 and indigenous defence fighter aircraft. It represents the smallest stand-alone offering to the self-ruled island since former president George W Bush approved a $125 million sale of anti-ship missiles in 2007, according to a report by the Congressional Research Service.

“This case-by-case approach in military sales could be more efficient than previous practices of big packages,” Chen Chungchi, spokesman for Taiwan’s defence ministry said by phone on Tuesday. “We hope military purchases in the future can be discussed case by case in order to enhance efficiency.”

China’s military “is strongly dissatisfied and strongly opposed to this,” defence ministry spokesman Ren Guoqiang said, adding that it has launched “stern representations” with the US.

“We are resolutely opposed to the US sale of weapons to Taiwan,” Ren said. China demanded that the US cancel the sales as well as its military contacts with Taiwan “in order to avoid the next step in damaging China-US military relations and peace and stability in the Taiwan strait.”

MATTIS LOOKS AHEAD AFTER CHINA SCRAPS MILITARY TALKS

US defence secretary Jim Mattis said on Monday he was seeking a way ahead for military ties with China after Beijing postponed military talks in protest at last week’s US decision to impose sanctions over China’s purchase of Russian weaponry.

“We believe that we do have to have a relationship with China and secretary (of state Mike) Pompeo and I are of one mind on this,” Mattis told reporters.

“And so we’re sorting out the way ahead right now.”

China’s defence ministry has said it would recall navy chief Shen Jinlong from a visit to the US and postpone planned talks in Beijing between Chinese and US military officials that had been set for next week.

It added that China’s military reserved the right to take further countermeasures. AGENCIES