The US announces more than 1,100 million dollars in military aid to Taiwan and China threatens

The State Department of USA approved this Friday the sale of an arms package valued at 1,100 million euros destined to Taiwan.

The Biden Administration has formally notified Congress of three packages for the Surveillance Radar Program (SRP) and military equipment. This material includes up to 60 anti-ship missiles AGM-84L-1 Harpoon Block II and four ATM-84L-1 Harpoon Block II exercise missiles. In addition, Washington will facilitate 100 tactical missiles AIM-9X Block II Sidewinder and four tactical guidance units AIM-9X Block II.

The Pentagon Defense Security Cooperation Agency has explained that this sale occurs after the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States (TECRO) made the purchase request.

[Así es el KJ-500, el avión espía chino que vigila cada movimiento de Taiwán]

According to the letter, these sales are in accordance with “US law and policy” on Taiwan. “This proposed sale serves the national, economic, and security interests of the United States by supporting the recipient’s continued efforts to maintain a credible defensive capability,” the Pentagon said.

“The proposed sale will help improve recipient safety and help maintain political stabilitythe military balance and economic progress in the region,” added the spokesman for the US Department of Defense.

The Taiwanese Ministry of Defense has expressed its gratitude this Saturday for the agreement with the Biden Administration to obtain weapons worth 1,000 million euros.

“We are grateful that the United States provides us with the means to enhance our ability to deal with current and future threats,” the Taiwanese ministry said in a Twitter message.

The Chinese notice

For its part, the Embassy of China in the North American country has reacted to the measure by asking Washington to revoke the arms sale because “endangers” the relationship between the two countries.

If not, Beijing will take “legitimate and necessary countermeasures in light of the development of the situation,” said spokesman Liu Pengyu.

This Thursday, Taiwan shot down for the first time a supposedly Chinese drone that would have been flying in the airspace of the island. Earlier, the United States sent two Navy warships to the Taiwan Strait, for the first time since the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosiwill visit the island.

Shortly after the navigation operation was disclosed, the Taiwan Ministry of Defense has confirmed a new approach of Chinese Army warships and fighter jets to its maritime and air safety zone, as has become customary in recent months.