The United States has approved $2 billion in arms sales to Taiwan, including the first-time delivery to the self-ruled island of an advanced surface-to-air missile defense system, in a move that has drawn China\u2019s criticism. <\/p>\n
Taiwan\u2019s presidential office on Saturday thanked Washington for greenlighting the potential arms sales. Under the island\u2019s new president, Lai Ching-te, Taiwan has been stepping up defense measures as China increased its military threats against the territory it claims as its own. <\/p>\n
Beijing last week held war games encircling Taiwan for the second time since Lai took office in May. <\/p>\n
The US is Taiwan\u2019s strongest unofficial ally and its laws bound it to provide Taiwan with the means to defend itself. <\/p>\n
\u201cStrengthening Taiwan\u2019s self-defense capabilities is the foundation for maintaining regional stability,\u201d Taiwan\u2019s presidential spokesperson Karen Kuo said. <\/p>\n
China criticized the move, saying it undermined its sovereignty and security interests, was harming US-China relations and threatened peace across the Taiwan Strait, which separates China from Taiwan. <\/p>\n
\u201cChina strongly condemns and firmly opposes this and has lodged serious protests with the US,\u201d read a statement by a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson. \u201cWe will take resolute countermeasures and take all measures necessary to firmly defend national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity.\u201d <\/p>\n
The potential sales package includes three National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS) and related equipment valued at up to $1.16 billion, according to the US State Department\u2019s Bureau of Political-Military Affairs. <\/p>\n
It also includes radar systems worth an estimated $828 million. <\/p>\n
The NASAMS system has been battle-tested in Ukraine and will help to strengthen the Taiwanese army\u2019s air defense capabilities, Taiwan\u2019s Defense Ministry said. <\/p>\n
China\u2019s war games last week were aimed at practicing the \u201csealing off of key ports and key areas\u201d around Taiwan, according to Chinese officials. Taiwan counted a record one-day total of 153 aircraft, 14 navy vessels and 12 Chinese government ships. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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