Opinion | US arms sales to Taiwan only a matter of time, but bound to leave Taipei uneasy
Ankit Panda says that the announcement of the US$1.4 billion package may raise Taipei suspicions over whether it is a genuine show of support or a ploy aimed at forcing more cooperation from Beijing over North Korea
After months of rumour and speculation, the US Department of State approved a US$1.4 billion arms package for Taiwan comprising everything from new missiles to technical support to an electronic warfare suite.
The approval is the first of its kind for Taiwan since US President Donald Trump was inaugurated. The last package to be approved for Taiwan was in December 2015.
More importantly, however, this is the first US arms package to receive clearance for Taiwan since Tsai Ing-wen took office as Taiwan’s president in May 2016.
Since Tsai’s inauguration, ties have cooled across the Taiwan Strait, amid great scepticism in Beijing about the ultimate intentions of Tsai’s independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party.
China considers Taiwan part of its territory. Since Tsai’s inauguration, Beijing has gradually chipped away at Taipei’s international space and diplomatic allies. Most recently, in June, Panama switched its diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing, leaving Taiwan with just 20 states that give it diplomatic recognition over China.