US announces $2.4 bn sale of coastal defense systems to Taiwan
US on Monday said it had approved a $2.4 billion sale of 100 Harpoon coastal defense systems to Taiwan, defying Beijing's anger over a $1 billion missile deal the other day.
The announcement came just hours after Beijing said it could sanction US firms involved in an earlier arms sales to the democratic self-ruled island.
The proposed sale of the Harpoon systems "can help increase the security of the recipient and assist in maintaining political stability, military balance... and progress in your community," the State Department said in a statement.
The deal involves 100 Harpoon Coastal Defense Systems (HCDS), which include 400 RGM-84L-4 Harpoon Block II surface-launched missiles with a variety of around 78 miles (125 kilometers).
The missiles, created by Boeing, could be positioned on fixed platforms or mounted on trucks.
The office of Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen released a statement thanking America for the sale, saying it could "upgrade asymmetric warfare capabilities."
Democratic and self-ruled Taiwan lives under frequent threat of invasion by authoritarian China, whose leaders view the island within their territory.
They have vowed to 1 day seize the territory, by force if necessary.
Beijing has ramped up diplomatic and military pressure on Taiwan since the 2016 election of Tsai, who views the island as a de facto sovereign nation rather than part of "one China."
Chinese fighter jets and bombers have entered Taiwan's air defense zone with unprecedented frequency lately, while propaganda films have proven simulated attacks on Taiwan-like territories and US bases in Guam.
Washington diplomatically recognizes Beijing over Taipei nonetheless it can be bound by an act of Congress to market Taiwan weapons to defend itself.
In contrast to treaty allies like Japan, South Korea and the Philippines, the US has never openly focused on defending Taiwan if it had been invaded -- an insurance plan known as "strategic ambiguity."
Nonetheless it maintains that any change to Taiwan's future status must not be done by force.
Taiwan's military is dwarfed by China's People's Liberation Army and much of its equipment, including its fleet of fighter jets, is aging.
Recent US administrations were cautious with big-ticket arms sales to Taiwan for concern with provoking Beijing.
But US President Donald Trump has been significantly less squeamish, signing off on multiple sales worth billions recently, as he clashes with China on a host of issues.
Last Wednesday, the united states said it had approved the $1 billion sale of 135 precision-guided, air-launched AGM-84H SLAM-ER cruise missiles -- which unlike the Harpoon have a variety greater than the width of the Taiwan Strait that separates the island from mainland China.
In response, Beijing on Monday said it could impose sanctions on Lockheed Martin, a Boeing defense division and other US organizations involved in the arms sale.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said the sanctions were "to safeguard national interests" and would connect with anyone who has "behaved badly along the way of arms sales to Taiwan."
Zhao didn't give further details how the sanctions works.
