The Chinese Foreign Ministry announced on Saturday its commitment to taking “resolute countermeasures” in response to the US’s recent approval of nearly $2 billion in arms sales to Taiwan, which includes advanced missile systems.
According to the Global Times, this decision by the US Defense Department has sparked significant outrage in Beijing, with officials citing violations of the one-China principle and threats to national sovereignty.
The arms package, valued at approximately $1.988 billion, features the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS) among other advanced radar systems. Chinese military experts have criticized this move, arguing that it is primarily aimed at economically extorting Taiwan while benefiting American arms manufacturers.
They contend that the NASAMS, which has seen action in Ukraine, offers limited enhancement to Taiwan’s air defense capabilities and does not pose a significant threat to mainland China’s military operations.
A spokesperson for China’s Foreign Ministry emphasized that the arms sales undermine peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and bolster separatist sentiments in Taiwan. They condemned the US for its contradictory stance, asserting that US actions to arm Taiwan contradict promises not to support “Taiwan independence.”
Additionally, the spokesperson warned that Taiwan’s efforts to rely on US military support will not yield security but instead escalate tensions across the Strait.
As tensions rise, recent military drills by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) have underscored China’s growing control over airspace and waters surrounding Taiwan.
Chinese analysts further expressed that the US’s ongoing military support for Taiwan serves to destabilize the region, calling for an immediate halt to arms sales.
They reiterated that such actions only exacerbate the potential for conflict, urging the US to reconsider its approach to Taiwan.
