The United States has announced the sale of $440 million worth of ammunition and military spare parts to Taiwan as a sign of its support for the autonomous island, which is claimed by China. This sale does not imply an increase in the scope of US weapons supplied to Taiwan, but it comes at a time when Washington and Beijing are trying to stabilize their strained relations.
The US State Department notified Congress of the $332.2 million sale of ammunition for 30mm caliber guns and spare parts for armaments and military vehicles for $108 million. According to the State Department, this sale will help Taiwan maintain a credible defensive capability but will not alter the fundamental military balance in the region.
Although Congress has the right to reject this sale, that is unlikely to happen as most lawmakers push for the United States to increase its support for Taiwan vis-Ã -vis China.
China expressed its strong opposition to this move by Washington, noting that the US should stop generating military tensions in the Taiwan Strait and not jeopardize peace and stability in the region.
The United States has long sold arms to Taiwan while maintaining diplomatic relations with China, which considers the island part of its territory and does not rule out recovering it in the future, even by force if necessary.
Recently, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken paid a visit to Beijing, during which both sides maintained their positions on Taiwan, seeking to continue communication and avoid new tensions.