BEIJING: The Chinese government protested on Sunday (Dec 22) the latest American announcements of military sales and assistance to Taiwan, warning the United States that it is “playing with fire”.
On Saturday, US President Joe Biden authorised the provision of up to US$571 million in Defense Department material and services and in military education and training for Taiwan. Separately, the Defense Department said on Friday that $295 million in military sales had been approved.
A Chinese Foreign Ministry statement urged the US to stop arming Taiwan and stop what it called “dangerous moves that undermine peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait”.
Taiwan is a democratic island of 23 million people that the Chinese government claims as its territory and says must come under its control. US military sales and assistance aim to help Taiwan defend itself and deter China from launching an attack.
The US$571 million in military assistance comes on top of Biden’s authorisation of US$567 million for the same purposes in late September. The military sales include US$265 million for about 300 tactical radio systems and US$30 million for 16 gun mounts.
Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry welcomed the approval of the two sales, saying in a social media post on X that it reaffirmed the US government’s “commitment to our defence”.