US decision to supply Taiwan with advanced weapons

Washington/Taipei – The US State Department has approved the supply of other weapons, including 40 Howitzers, to Taiwan. This is the first major decision by the US Biden administration to supply arms to Taiwan. Taiwan’s foreign ministry has appreciated the United States for the decision. At the same time, there has been an aggressive response from China, and the foreign ministry has warned that China will retaliate strongly.

The Trump administration of the United States had decided to supply large quantities of arms to Taiwan as part of its aggressive policy against China. In August last year, the United States and Taiwan signed an ambitious agreement to purchase F-16V fighter jets. The United States has since announced plans to supply Taiwan with Harpoon missiles, High Mars rocket launchers and Slam-ER missiles. Around the same time, there were reports of talks between Taiwan and the United States for patriot missiles, drones, smart mines and howitzers. It is clear from the State Department’s statement that it has approved the supply of Howitzers.

The statement was posted on the Defence Security Cooperation Agency website of the US Defence Department. Accordingly, the United States will supply Taiwan with 40 Paladin Howitzers, 20 Field Artillery Ammunition Support vehicles, five Hercules Armoured vehicles, M2 Point 50 calibre machine guns, precision-guided kits and other weapons. The entire deal is valued at USD 750 million, according to the website.

Taiwanese foreign department has welcomed the US State Department’s decision. This is the first time the Biden administration has decided to supply arms to Taiwan. The Taiwanese foreign ministry said that the decision underlines the US administration’s commitment to strengthening Taiwan’s defence capabilities. China has expressed displeasure over the US decision to supply arms to Taiwan.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry warned, ‘China strongly opposes the US decision to supply arms to Taiwan. China has conveyed its displeasure to the United States. The decision interferes with China’s internal affairs and China will respond to it.’ Last month, the supremo of the Chinese Communist Party and President Xi Jinping issued a stern warning on the issue of Taiwan’s merger. Jinping warned, ‘Any ongoing efforts for Taiwan’s independence will be thwarted by resolute action. No one should make the mistake of ignoring the ability of the Chinese people and their desire to maintain sovereignty and unity’, adding that China’s communist regime would never abandon the Taiwan issue. Former Taiwanese defence chief Lee Hsien Loong has suggested that the United States should strengthen the defence capabilities of other partner countries and that of Taiwan and jolt the Chinese military might.