Taiwan defends US arms deal after China sanctions threat

Article Posted on : - Jul 15, 2019

TAIPEI (AP): Taiwan has defended the proposed purchase of US$ 2.2 billion in arms from the US, following a Chinese announcement that it would sanction any American companies involved in the deal.

The Defence Ministry said Saturday that US weapons help strengthen Taiwan's self-defence in the face of a growing military threat from China.

China said late Friday that the arms sales would undermine its sovereignty and national security and that it would impose sanctions on any US enterprises involved in the deal.

The Trump administration announced the proposed sale earlier in the week. It would include 108 Abrams tanks and 250 Stinger surface-to-air missiles.

China considers Taiwan a part of its territory. The self-governing island split from the mainland during a civil war in 1949.

Other Related News

Technology emerged as new strategic arena of competition: Army Chief

DRDO develops country's lightest bulletproof jacket for protection against highest threat level

US Senate passes USD 95.3 bln package for Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan and Indo-Pacific

British PM lays out 'generational' plan to hike UK's defence spending

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has announced what he has characterised as the “biggest strengthening of Britain's national defence in a generation” to meet the challenge of an increasingly dangerous world and pledged to grow the country's defence budget to 2.5 per cent of GDP by 2030 – amounting to an additional GBP 75 billion in funding over the next six years.