TAIPEI - The United States has approved the potential sale of $619 million (S$833 million) in new weapons to Taiwan, including missiles for its F-16 fleet, as the island reported a second day of large-scale Chinese air force incursions nearby. The arms sales are likely to further sour already tense ties between Washington and Beijing, which has repeatedly demanded such...
Air force soldiers load a US made AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile at a combat readiness mission during a press invited event at the airbase in Hualien, Taiwan, on Aug 17, 2022.TAIPEI - The United States has approved the potential sale of $619 million in new weapons to Taiwan, including missiles for its F-16 fleet, as the island reported a second day of large-scale Chinese air force incursions nearby.
"The proposed sale will contribute to the recipient's capability to provide for the defence of its airspace, regional security, and interoperability with the United States," it said in a statement. China's Foreign Ministry said it was "firmly" opposed to the planned sale, adding that the United States should stop arms sales to and military contacts with Taiwan.Taiwan has complained for the past three years or so of stepped-up Chinese military activities near the island as Beijing seeks to assert its sovereignty claims.
Taiwan's defence ministry said the aircraft, 17 J-10 fighters and four J-16 fighters, had flown into the southwestern corner of Taiwan's air defence identification zone, according to a map the ministry released. Taiwan's forces monitored the situation, including sending up its own planes, the ministry added, using the normal phrasing for its response to such Chinese incursions.The ministry on Wednesday reported 19 Chinese aircraft flying in Taiwan's air defence zone.
China has not commented on recent activities near Taiwan. In January, China said it staged combat drills around the island to "resolutely counter the provocative actions of external forces and Taiwan independence separatist forces".
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