Sino File | Wary of China, the US is normalising Taiwan ties with bigger and more frequent arms sales

Donald Trump is approving more frequent arms sales to Taiwan as part of a deliberate policy to deepen the strategic partnership between the two democratic allies in the face of the challenge from communist China

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Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen addresses a forum in New York City on July 12, during a transit stop on her way to visit three Caribbean allies. US arms sales are also efforts to boost the embattled Tsai and her independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party in the upcoming presidential and legislative elections. Photo: EPA

Published: 3:00am, 17 Jul 2019Updated: 4:09pm, 17 Jul 2019

America’s US$2.2 billion arms sale to Taiwan is not just a normal act to fulfil the administration’s obligation towards helping Taiwan to achieve sufficient defence capability under a US law, but also an effort to substantively upgrade the strategic partnership between the two democracies to contain a fast-rising communist power – China.

The sales of 108 M1A2T Abrams tanks, plus related equipment, and some 250 Stinger missiles, is the United States’ first big-ticket military sale to Taiwan since former president George H.W. Bush sold 150 F-16 jet fighters to Taipei in 1992.

The announcement came amid reports of another big-ticket sale of more than 60 new F-16 fighter jets to Taiwan, whose 140 older “Block 20” F-16 jets are being upgraded to the newest standard under another arms deal approved in April.

Last week’s announcement came just a few days after US President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping agreed to resume trade talks on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Japan.

Under the Taiwan Relations Act, passed in 1979 when Washington switched diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing, the administration is obliged to help Taiwan maintain self-defence capability. In 1982, the Reagan administration made the Six Assurances to further oblige administrations to help Taiwan’s defence.

However, presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama were all largely reluctant to approve large or regular arms deals to Taiwan, out of fear of angering Beijing.

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