TAIPEI -- Taiwan's government and main opposition party have both thanked the U.S. for finally signing off on its first major arms deal with the island-republic in four years, but Beijing has reacted angrily and warned of possible sanctions.
Beijing is fuming over a $1.8-billion U.S. arms deal with Taiwan, but critics say much of the materiel is used and did not meet Taipei’s wish list. © Reuters. The deal for $1.83 billion in arms comes a month ahead of Taiwan's quadrennial presidential and parliamentary elections in which the opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) is widely expected to push the more China-friendly Nationalist, or Kuomintang, party from power.
The U.S. is required by law to provide Taiwan with weapons to defend itself against possible invasion by China, which continues to claim sovereignty over the island. Taiwan split away in 1949 when the communists took power on the mainland.
"The arms deal shows the U.S. takes Taiwan's security seriously," the ministry said in a statement on Wednesday. "The arms will help us develop and maintain credible self-defense capabilities, which is in the interest of both sides."
"We will continue to bolster our security partnership and contribute to long-term regional peace and stability," the ministry said. Secretary General Joseph Wu of the front-running opposition DPP took a similar line: "The U.S. is a key security partner for Taiwan," he said. "The arms sales again shows the U.S. is committed to the Taiwan Relations Act and Six Assurances, and this will help maintain Taiwan's security and peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region."
The Taiwan Relations Acts was enacted in 1979, while the Six Assurances were made by the administration of President Ronald Reagan in 1982. They commit Washington to providing Taiwan with weapons to defend itself against possible Chinese aggression.
The latest arms package includes two decommissioned Perry-class naval frigates which carry guided missiles, Stinger surface-to-air missiles, amphibious assault vehicles and communications systems. David McKeeby, a State Department spokesman, told reporters that Lockheed Martin and Raytheon are two of the U.S. defense contractors involved.
Security analysts say Taipei did not got everything it wanted, however. Specifically, the deal does not include F16 C/D fighter jets or diesel-electric submarines, which Taipei had requested. The four-year gap between deals is also considered long, and Congress approved the deal a year ago.
