China plans to impose sanctions over US arms sale to Taiwan

Recently, the US State Department approved potential foreign military sales of weapons worth billions of dollars to the country. Last week, the State Department approved a possible foreign military sale of AGM84H standoff land attack missile expanded response (SLAMER) Missiles to Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States (TECRO). The department also approved a sale of 11 high mobility artillery rocket systems (HIMARS) M142 launchers for $436.1m and six MS110 Recce Pods for $367.2m to TERCO. It also includes the sale of Harpoon Coastal Defense Systems (HCDS) to TECRO for $2.37bn. In August, Taiwan signed an agreement to purchase 66 F16 jets from Lockheed Martin. The companies involved in the sales include Lockheed Martin, Boeing and Raytheon.

Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Zhao Lijian was reported by CNN as saying that the US sale of missiles and weapons to Taiwan ‘seriously violate’ China’s security interests. He also urged the nation to sever the military relationship with the Taiwanese Government. Media quoted Zhao as saying: “We will continue to take necessary measures to safeguard national sovereignty and security interests.”

Meanwhile, US State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said: “We deplore Beijing’s efforts to retaliate against US and foreign companies for their sales that support Taiwan’s legitimate selfdefence requirements, the necessity of which has been made abundantly clear through increasingly hostile incursions by China’s air force.”