China angry over US destroyer sale to Taiwan

(Baonghean.vn) - On March 11, China expressed anger after the US State Department announced the approval of a $190 million deal to sell two destroyers to Taiwan.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei. Photo: Reuters

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said China expressed its opposition to the US: "China has made a statement to the US State Department asking it to provide a full statement... The US has said that it currently has no plans to sell weapons to Taiwan and has not made any reports on this issue. China's position on the US selling weapons to Taiwan is consistent, clear and firm."

“This equipment sale and transfer of support will not fundamentally alter the military balance in the region,” the US State Department said in a statement. Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said the sale was part of a deal reached last year for a $1.83 billion arms package.

The move comes amid growing concerns about China’s actions in the South China Sea. Beijing has recently illegally deployed anti-aircraft missiles and modern fighter jets on several islands under Vietnam’s sovereignty.

USS Vandegrift, an Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate of the US Navy. Photo: USNavy.

In a rare public comment on the regional territorial dispute, Taiwan's defense chief warned that countries in the region were spending more on strengthening their military capabilities amid rising tensions in the South China Sea. China has also just announced a 7-8 percent increase in its 2016 defense budget.

China claims Taiwan as part of its territory, ready to use force to unify it if necessary, and opposes any arms sales to Taiwan. Last week, Chinese President Xi Jinping said he would never allow the historical tragedy of Taiwan being separated from China to repeat itself.

Phuong Thao

(According to Reuters)