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U.S. Approves $1.988 Billion Arms Sale to Taiwan Amid Rising Tensions with China

Oct 31, 2024, 08:35 AM

The United States has approved a nearly $1.988 billion arms sale to Taiwan, including three advanced surface-to-air missile systems. This decision has drawn sharp criticism from China, with Chinese officials, including the Defense Ministry spokesperson Zhang Xiaogang, condemning the sale and warning of unspecified countermeasures. Chinese President Xi Jinping has also pressured U.S. President Joe Biden to formally oppose Taiwan independence, a request that the U.S. has declined. The arms deal and the U.S. stance on Taiwan have heightened tensions between the two nations, with China reiterating its firm opposition to U.S. military contact with Taiwan and denouncing the arms sale as a threat to its national security.