US approves sale of advanced weaponry to Taiwan as Chinese Threat looms

Washington/Taipei: – While the intensity of the Chinese threats is increasing, the United States also has increased the speed of equipping Taiwan with advanced weapons. After signing an agreement to supply 66, F-16 fighter jets, the United States has now decided to provide a new rocket system, missiles and pods for fighter jets. The US Department of State has approved this sale. Only three days ago, China once again threatened Taiwan by publishing a video of an exercise considered to be the dress rehearsal of an attack on Taiwan.

China is upset with the successive visits of the senior US officials to Taiwan, and there has been a massive increase in the Chinese activities against Taiwan. The Chinese security forces are making consistent attempts of intrusion and surveillance into the Taiwanese territory. Former Chinese military officials, analysts, as well as media are all claiming that this is the right time to attack Taiwan. It has also been revealed that the Chinese People’s Liberation Army has conducted a whopping five war exercises near the Taiwanese border in the last two months. Taiwan has been consistently threatened by publishing photographs and videos of the practices. The footage posted three days ago is considered to be a part of the same effort.

Chinese government news channel, CCTV, broadcasted this video showing the People’s Liberation Army practising to take control of an island. Live fire exercises have been conducted in the Fujian and Guangdong regions near the Taiwanese border. Amphibious landing crafts, attack helicopters and missiles were a part of the practices. The government news channel also informed that the exercises were conducted by the unit 73 Group Army, specially formed for an attack on Taiwan. Sources from Taiwan claimed that the video of the exercises was released as a warning because of the massive response to the Taiwanese National Day from around the world.

While China is consistently trying to pressurise Taiwan, the United States has expedited the moves to increase the Taiwanese defence preparedness. The US Department of State has allowed the sale of new weapons to Taiwan. The suggestion in this respect was sent to the US Congress on Monday. The new weapons include High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), SLAM-ER cruise missile and external sensor pods for F-16 fighter jets. Taiwan informed that talks regarding the supply of drones, Harpoon missiles, smart mines and Paladin Howitzers are also underway.

US President Donald Trump has taken a more active stand on the issue of cooperation with Taiwan. The diplomatic office started by the United States in Taiwan, and the increasing defence cooperation is considered to be a part of President Trump’s policy. The historic decision to supply fighter jets to Taiwan was taken after a long gap of three decades. Following that, modern missiles, torpedoes and advanced weapon systems are also being supplied to Taiwan. The United States has increased its deployment in the marine region near Taiwan, and the movements of destroyers, drones, surveillance and fighter jets have grown along with the aircraft carriers. This sequence of events spells trouble for the Chinese government, and China has even issued warnings to the United States. But the United States, by ignoring the Chinese threats, has indicated through the new arms sale that the cooperation with Taiwan will only strengthen in the future.