US arms sale won’t do much to help Taiwan defend itself against Beijing, analysts say
But proposed US$330 million deal is seen as another sign of closer ties between Taipei and Washington
Washington’s plan to sell US$330 million of spare parts for Taiwan’s warplanes will not change the cross-strait military situation or improve the self-ruled island’s ability to defend itself against growing threats from Beijing, according to analysts.
But they say that the proposed deal is the latest sign of strengthening US-Taiwan ties and shows that the administration of US President Donald Trump is willing to take further steps to help ensure the island’s security as Beijing expands its military.
It will be the second US weapons deal under Trump, after his administration in June last year agreed to sell a US$1.4 billion arms package to Taiwan that included high-speed anti-radiation missiles, torpedoes, missile components and technical support for early warning radar.
Beijing regards Taiwan as a renegade province that should be reunited with the mainland, by force if necessary. It has previously warned Washington against selling weapons to Taiwan and establishing military relations with the island, and remains locked in a trade war with the US.