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China urges US to ‘immediately cancel’ arms sale to Taiwan
BEIJING, July 9, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – China urged Washington Tuesday to
“immediately cancel” the potential sale of $2.2 billion in weapons to Taiwan,
including battle tanks and anti-aircraft missiles.
The US State Department’s decision to greenlight the first big-ticket US
military sale to the self-ruled democratic island in decades comes amid
already strained ties between Washington and Beijing.
“The sale of weapons by the United States to Taiwan… seriously violates
the one-China principle… grossly interferes in China’s internal affairs and
undermines China’s sovereignty and security interests,” said foreign ministry
spokesman Geng Shuang.
Geng said that China has already lodged formal complaints through
diplomatic channels expressing “strong dissatisfaction and resolute
opposition” to the move.
“China urges the US to… immediately cancel the planned arms sale and stop
military relations with Taipei to avoid damaging Sino-US relations and
harming peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait,” Geng said.
According to the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) the deal
includes 108 M1A2T Abrams tanks, 250 Stinger portable anti-aircraft missiles
and related equipment and support.
Taiwan has been ruled separately from China since the end of a civil war in
1949, but Beijing considers it a part of its territory to be retaken — by
force if necessary.
China has significantly stepped up diplomatic and military pressure on
Taipei since the election in 2016 of President Tsai Ing-wen, whose Democratic
Progressive Party refuses to acknowledge that the island is part of “One
China”.
It has also staged military exercises near the island, and steadily reduced
the already small number of nations that recognise Taiwan.
The United States switched diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to China in
1979, but has remained an important ally — and arms supplier — to Taipei.
Laws passed that year by Congress required Washington to provide the island
with means of self-defence.
But it has been wary of big-ticket military equipment sales to Taiwan in
recent years, fearful of stoking anger in Beijing.
BSS/AFP/FI/ 1435 hrs