Taiwan hails defensive capability after US approves sale of missile upgrade

Name: China warns US of ‘strong response’ regarding Taiwan, saying island’s independence is 'dead end'
Uploaded: 2020-07-10T09:40:11.000Z
Duration: 2 min 47 s
Description: China warns US of ‘strong response’ regarding Taiwan, saying island’s independence is 'dead end'

US$620 million deal ‘demonstrates the importance attached to our national defence security’, Taiwanese defence ministry says

The sale adds to the island’s deterrent against regional threats, according to Washington

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Taiwan first bought Patriot missiles from the US in 2007, during George W. Bush’s presidency. Photo: CNS

Lawrence Chung

Published: 5:40pm, 10 Jul 2020Updated: 11:12pm, 10 Jul 2020

The United States has approved the US$620 million sale of a missile upgrade to Taiwan at a sensitive moment when Beijing has stepped up sabre-rattling against the island through various military drills.

Taiwan’s presidential office welcomed the sales on Friday soon after the US state department announced a package to extend the operational life of Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) surface-to-air missiles.

The sale – the second by the US to Taiwan this year – would “help us to continue our defensive capability and ensure peace in the Taiwan Strait and security in the region”, presidential spokesman Alex Huang said.

It would help the self-ruled island to counter rising military threats from Beijing in the Taiwan Strait and regionally, he said.

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China warns US of ‘strong response’ regarding Taiwan, saying island’s independence is 'dead end'

The US does not have formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan, but is bound by the Taiwan Relations Act to supply defensive arms to Taipei, despite repeated protests by Beijing. The act took force in 1979, when Washington switched recognition to Beijing from Taipei.