Matthew 24:6 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.
The United States government on Wednesday authorized selling a $1.83 billion defense package to Taiwan, a transaction that immediately drew objections, criticisms and sanctions from China.
CNN reported the package Taiwan purchased mainly consists of weapons used for defense. It includes amphibious assault vehicles, a pair of frigates and anti-aircraft and anti-ship weapons.
A state department spokesman addressed the sale at a news conference on Wednesday, saying it was “based on our assessment of Taiwan’s defense needs” and in line with the government’s existing diplomatic policies regarding China and Taiwan, nations that have long been at odds.
China, though, doesn’t see it that way.
Speaking to Xinhua, China’s state-run media service, Vice Foreign Minister Zheng Zeguang said Beijing “strongly opposes” the transaction, which it believes violates the diplomatic agreements. Zheng told the news agency that China imposed sanctions on the companies involved in the sale.
“No one can shake the firm will of the Chinese government and people to defend their national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and to oppose foreign interference,” Zheng told Xinhua.
Relations between China and Taiwan have been fragile since the Chinese Civil War ended in 1949. Taiwan governs itself, though Beijing claims that the island remains Chinese territory.
It isn’t the first time that the United States has sold weapons to Taiwan.
Focus Taiwan, a news agency, reported it was the fourth transaction since 2008, the year in which U.S. President Barack Obama was elected and Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou took office. Those deals have been worth more than $20 billion, but this was the first exchange since 2011.
A spokesperson for China’s Defense Ministry, Yang Yujun, told Xinhua on Thursday that the arms transaction was “wrongdoing” that would “inevitably harm China-U.S. military relations.” Xinhua reported Zheng summoned officials at the U.S. embassy in China to discuss the sale.
The U.S. state department doesn’t see why the sale would hurt its relationship with China.
“There’s no need for it to have any derogatory effect on our relationship with China, just like there was no need in the past for it to ever have that effect on China,” spokesman John Kirby told reporters Wednesday. “We still want to work to establish a better, more transparent, more effective relationship with China in the region, and we’re going to continue to work at that.”
