August 22, 2019

Andrew Campbell 

The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) has notified Congress on July 8 of a major arms sale to Taiwan, including 108 M1A2T Abrams battle tanks and 250 Block I-92F Stinger portable surface-to-air missiles, at worth more than US$2.22 billion. Abrams tanks are made by General Dynamics and Stinger antiaircraft missiles are made by Raytheon.

One month later, the DSCA officially announced on August 20 another arms sale to Taiwan and notified Congress of 66 F-16C/D fighter aircraft and 75 F-110 General Electric engines worth for more than US$8 billion. The DSCA said these arms sales, which the US was committed to providing weapons to Taiwan under the 1979 enacted law, were consistent with the US policy to maintain national interests and help to defend Taiwan's security. The head officer, Brent Christensen, of the American Institute in Taiwan also stated the US-Taiwan sales of defense equipment was consistent in accordance with the Taiwan Relations Act and could coordinate important peace and stability in the region.

China’s Foreign Ministry warned the US arms sales infringed its sovereignty over Taiwan and repeatedly urged the US to stop arms sales to Taiwan under the One China policy. China has vowed to take all necessary measures to retaliate, including sanctions on US firms involved in the arms sales to Taiwan; that is, the US would have to assume all the consequences. Despite Taiwan’s new arms deals in getting defense upgrades from M1A2T Abrams tanks, Stinger missiles, and F-16 fighter planes from the US, observers warned China still has a vast advantage in its military power in the cross-strait region.

Photo:Webshot.