US-China ties face new test as Washington plans to boost arms sales to Taipei

Name: Biden tours new Taiwanese chip-making plant in Arizona, fans US-China semiconductor rivalry
Uploaded: 2022-12-08T14:30:09.000Z
Duration: 2 min 42 s
Description: Biden tours new Taiwanese chip-making plant in Arizona, fans US-China semiconductor rivalry

White House announces island will buy aircraft parts and other equipment worth US$425 million while Congress prepares to approve military aid

Beijing says the deals are harmful to the peace and stability of the Taiwan Strait and send the wrong signal to separatists

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The Biden administration announced that the US will sell plane parts to Taiwan to support its fleet of F-16 fighters and other US-supplied weapons systems. Photo: AFP

Cyril Ipin Hong KongandAmber Wangin Beijing

Published: 10:30pm, 8 Dec 2022Updated: 11:02pm, 8 Dec 2022

Less than a month after the leaders of the US and China met face to face, ties between the nations face fresh uncertainty as Washington prepares to sign off on new arms sales to Taipei.

The White House announced on Tuesday that spare aircraft parts worth more than US$425 million would be sold to Taiwan to support its fleet of F-16 fighters, C-130 transport planes and other US-supplied weapons systems. This includes US$330 million worth of standard replacement parts and US$98 million worth of non-standard equipment.

“This proposed sale serves US national, economic, and security interests by supporting the recipient’s continuing efforts to maintain a credible defensive capability,” the State Department said of the deal.

Beijing responded on Thursday, saying the arms sales are harmful to the peace and stability of the Taiwan Strait and send the wrong signal to separatists

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“China expresses strong dissatisfaction with [the arms sale] and resolutely opposes it. We will take effective measures to firmly defend our sovereignty and security interests,” said Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning, who warned the US against “going further down a wrong and dangerous road”.