Political situation in Taiwan

US in giant deal with Taiwan – weapons worth 100 billion

Taiwan is to buy weapons from the US for over 100 billion Swedish kronor, which is the largest arms deal between the countries ever. This is reported by the Japan Times, which also writes that the giant deal comes under increasing Chinese pressure on Taiwan.

“The US continues to assist Taiwan in maintaining sufficient self-defense capabilities and quickly building a strong deterrent force,” says an American press release.

It is one of Washington’s clearest measures to arm Taiwan in several years, according to Bloomberg, and risks leading to a critical deterioration in relations between the US and China.

China condemns US deal with Taiwan

The announcement that the US has approved a major arms deal with Taiwan is leading to harsh criticism from China. The Chinese Foreign Ministry is urging the US to immediately stop the “dangerous measures,” reports Reuters.

“This will only increase the risk of military confrontation and war in the Taiwan Strait,” said spokesman Guo Jiakun.

This is the second time the United States has sold weapons to Taiwan since Donald Trump took office as president in his second term.