US arms sales a morale booster for Taiwan, says Tsai Ing-wen
Taiwanese president welcomes US plan to provide a new weapons package for the island’s defence, but analysts see promise as a political gesture that will provoke Beijing further
Taiwanese leader Tsai Ing-wen has welcomed the promise of a US arms sales package – which comes amid escalating cross-strait tensions – as a boost to security and military morale.
But analysts say it will only worsen relations with the mainland, and that the US appears to be once again using Taiwan as its pawn in dealing with Beijing, given the timing of the sale.
The administration of US President Donald Trump on Thursday notified Congress of its plan to go ahead with the controversial US$1.4 billion arms package, the first such sale since Trump’s predecessor, Barack Obama, sold US$1.8 billion worth of arms to Taiwan in 2015. The package still needs approval from congress within 30 days.
“The provision of these systems will help strengthen Taiwan’s self-defence capabilities,” Tsai said on Friday. “This increases Taiwan’s confidence and ability to maintain the status quo of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.” Tsai added that Taipei would continue to invest more in defence.
The island’s defence and foreign ministries said the package indicated a consolidated US commitment to defend the island, in line with the Taiwan Relations Act that was instituted after Washington switched diplomatic recognition to Beijing from Taipei in 1979.
