The US State Department on Friday approved a $2 billion arms sale package for Taiwan, including advanced surface-to-air missile systems and radar. The deal awaits approval by Congress.
Taiwan's defence ministry said it detected 19 Chinese aircraft on Sunday, including fighter jets and drones, flying near the island over a nearly four-hour period as part of Beijing's "joint combat readiness patrol" with warships.
It was the third such patrol reported by Taiwan's defence ministry this month.
"Taiwan's military closely monitored the situation with joint intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance systems, deploying aircraft, naval vessels and shore-based missile systems as an appropriate response," the ministry said.
Beijing's Taiwan Affairs Office said Sunday that the latest arms package showed that Washington "time and again contradicts the promises of its leaders not to support 'Taiwan independence'... and damages peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait region".
"'Taiwan independence' is as incompatible with peace across the strait as fire is with water," spokesperson Zhu Fenglian said in a statement.
"We urge the US... to stop arming Taiwan and stop sending the wrong signals to 'Taiwan independence' forces."
On Saturday, Beijing's foreign ministry condemned the arms package and said it had "lodged solemn representations" with the United States.
A ministry spokesperson said Beijing would "take all necessary measures to firmly defend national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity".
Taipei's defence ministry expressed its "sincere gratitude" for the sale on Saturday, saying it would "help the military continue to improve its defence resilience and jointly maintain peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait".
China claims Taiwan as part of its territory and has refused to rule out using force to bring the self-ruled island under its control.
Beijing maintains a near-daily presence of fighter jets, drones and warships around the democratic island, and held large-scale war games in Taiwan's vicinity this month.
On October 15, Taiwan said it had detected 153 Chinese military aircraft in the previous 25 hours -- the most for a single day.
The United States is Taipei's key partner and weapons supplier despite having no official diplomatic ties with the island.
In September, Beijing sanctioned US defence companies in retaliation for Washington's approval of the sale of military equipment to Taiwan.
China slams latest US arms sales to Taiwan
Beijing (AFP) Oct 27, 2024 -
China has slammed the latest round of US arms sales to Taiwan, vowing to take "all necessary measures" to assert its sovereignty over the self-ruled island it claims as its own.
The US State Department on Friday approved a $2 billion arms sale package for Taiwan, including advanced surface-to-air missile systems and radar. The deal awaits approval by Congress.
Taipei's defence ministry on Saturday expressed its "sincere gratitude" for the sale, saying it would "help the military continue to improve its defence resilience and jointly maintain peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait".
Beijing's foreign ministry hit back in a statement late Saturday, saying the latest arms package "seriously violates China's sovereignty and security interests, seriously damages China-US relations, and endangers peace and stability" in the strait.
"China strongly condemns and firmly opposes it, and has lodged solemn representations with the US," a ministry spokesperson said.
It added that Beijing would "take all necessary measures to firmly defend national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity".
China has refused to rule out using force to bring Taiwan under its control.
Beijing maintains a near-daily presence of fighter jets, drones and warships around the democratic island, and held large-scale war games in its vicinity this month.
Earlier this month, Taiwan detected a record 153 Chinese aircraft in one day.
The US is Taipei's key partner and provider of weapons despite having no official diplomatic ties with the democratic island.
In September, Beijing sanctioned US defence companies in retaliation for Washington's approval of the sale of military equipment to Taiwan.
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