Taiwan awaits $19 billion in US weapons, strengthens China threat

Taiwan is awaiting arms sales worth about $19 billion from the United States as the military gap between the autonomous territory and China continues to widen.

These sales include 108 Abrams tanks, a third of which Taiwan is scheduled to deliver this year after a five-year wait. The order for 66 F-16V fighter jets accounts for nearly half of the $19 billion.

American industrial capacity has been overstretched by shipping weapons to Ukraine to support defense against Russia and to Israel for the attack on Gaza. The US Department of Defense (Department of Defense) has said that getting approved weapons platforms into Taiwan’s hands is a priority.

Some analysts believe there is not enough to protect Taiwan from a potential invasion as China continues its rapid military buildup, vowing to annex autonomous islands (using force if necessary). It says that no measures have been taken.

A Department of Defense spokesperson said: newsweek In November, complaints about the “balance” of Taiwan’s purchases were a “misconception based on the false assumption” that the date the Pentagon notifies Congress of the planned arms sales date marks the “starting point for production and delivery.” He said there is.

“Industry does not begin production until defense companies receive signed contracts and down payments, which often takes months or even years after Congressional notification,” the spokesperson said, adding that the department He emphasized that he continues to prioritize the timely delivery of contracted military purchases with Taiwan.

Chinese Embassy Spokesperson Liu Pengyu said, “The United States’ military assistance to China’s Taiwan region is in flagrant violation of the one-China principle and the provisions of the three China-US joint communiqués.” newsweek On Wednesday, he cited past agreements between Washington and China that have helped form the basis of bilateral relations.

“The Taiwan issue is at the very heart of China’s core interests and is the first red line that must not be crossed in China-US relations,” he said, urging the United States to maintain a bilateral agreement. He called on the United States to comply with the rules and “stop actions that cause the Taiwan issue.” Tensions across the 100-mile Taiwan Strait. ”

For decades, U.S. policy on Taiwan has been rooted in part in the Taiwan Relations Act. The bill requires the United States to “provide to Taiwan such defense articles and services as are necessary to enable Taiwan to maintain an adequate self-defense capability.”

The US Senate passed $95 billion in military aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan on Tuesday. The House has not yet voted on the bill, which faces a tough fight in the lower chamber.