China-US tension: America pushes major weapons sales to Taiwan, putting pressure on Beijing, say insiders

US plans to sell seven major weapons systems to island as part of Trump’s increased aggression against China

There is fear in Taiwan that Joe Biden would be less willing than President Trump to sell America’s most advanced weapons to the island

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Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen is pictured at the Taipei Aerospace and Defence Technology Exhibition in Taipei, last year. Sources say the US will sell as many as seven weapons systems to Taiwan. Photo: EPA-EFE

Published: 8:26pm, 16 Sep 2020Updated: 12:22am, 17 Sep 2020

The United States plans to sell as many as seven major weapons systems, including mines, cruise missiles and drones to Taiwan, four people familiar with the discussions said, as the Trump administration ramps up pressure on China.

Pursuing seven sales at once is a rare departure from years of precedent in which US military sales to the island were spaced out and carefully calibrated to minimise tensions with Beijing.

But the Trump administration has become more aggressive with China in 2020 and the sales would land as relations between Beijing and Washington are at their lowest point in decades over accusations of spying, a lingering trade war and disputes about the spread of the novel coronavirus.

At the same time Taiwan’s desire to buy weapons increased after President Tsai Ing-wen was re-elected in January and has made strengthening Taiwan’s defences a top priority.

Taiwan is Beijing’s most sensitive territorial issue. Beijing says it is a Chinese province, and has denounced the Trump administration’s support for the island.

Washington has been eager to create a military counterbalance to Chinese forces, building on an effort known within the Pentagon as “Fortress Taiwan”, as Beijing’s military makes increasingly aggressive moves in the region.

The Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States did not respond to a request for comment.