US arms deal to Taiwan draws China’s condemnation

Washington announced a $1.83 billion arms sale to China’s rivals Taiwan on Wednesday irking Beijing to a great extent.

In a first of such deals in four years, the United States has announced to deliver the multi-billion arms package to Taiwan. Beijing, who does not consider Taiwan to be a sovereign country, has however condemned this announcement and has warned Washington that the deal will result in the instability of the region and will hamper the relations between China and the United States.

China lodged a formal complaint in this regard and has summoned the US envoy over Taiwan deal and has recorded its protest. China has always maintained that it would not hesitate to use force against Taiwan if the country attempts to gain independence. China has lodged the protest with the United States and has maintained that Taiwan remains an undisputed part of China’s territory and Beijing strongly opposes this provoking step from the Obama administration.

Beijing has also vowed to impose sanctions against companies involved in selling arms to Taiwan. China’s Vice Foreign Minister Zheng Zeguang stated that the deal is a direct threat to China’s sovereignty and threat. He was talking to media following a meeting with a US diplomat in Beijing. China has also imposed such sanctions in the past but there has not been a major effect of those sanctions to date. Therefore it is hard to see how this threat from Beijing will force Washington into rethinking about its declared arms sale deal to Taiwan.

United States on the other hands, has rebuffed China’s claim and are certain to go ahead with this sale. The tension between the two global powers has worsened in recent years following China’s construction of artificial islands in the South China Sea. United States have taken certain steps in order to contain China’s growing influence in the Asia Pacific that includes military assistance to Singapore, Malaysia, Australia and now China.

The arms sale deal to Taiwan is expected to be ratified by the US congress within 30 days unless there is an objection to it from within the congress. However, it is expected that the bill will be passed smoothly as both the Republicans and the Democrats are in favor of strengthening Taiwan in the wake of China’s growing military power.

A US spokesperson has stated that China’s claims are nothing new and the deal is perfectly in accordance with the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act. This act allows Washington to help Taiwan strengthen its defense and security. However, the US still does not recognize Taiwan as an independent state.

China views that Taiwan is a breakaway part of China and it is its province which will be reunited with the mainland sooner rather than later. The relations between the two have also been warmed up in recent times with the leaders from the two sides meeting for the first time in more than 60 years. However, US latest move could force China to alter its approach towards Taiwan.