US approves new $500M arms sale to Taiwan as aggression from China intensifies

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By MATTHEW LEE
Updated 12:36 PM CDT, August 23, 2023

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration has approved a $500 million arms sale to Taiwan as it ramps up military assistance to the island despite fervent objections from China.

The State Department said Wednesday it had signed off on the sale of infrared search tracking systems along with related equipment for advanced F-16 fighter jets. The sale includes the infrared systems as well as test support and equipment, computer software and spare parts, it said.

Although the deal is modest in comparison to previous weapons sales, the move is likely to draw fierce criticism from Beijing, which regards self-governing Taiwan as a renegade province and refuses to rule out the use of force to reunify it with the mainland.

“This proposed sale serves U.S. national, economic, and security interests by supporting the recipient’s continuing efforts to modernize its armed forces and to maintain a credible defensive capability,” the State Department said in a statement.




Read more: https://apnews.com/article/us-taiwan-china-invasion-threat-weapons-sales-military-fb9959dff57d5ac8fd2f8400316185b5

[Hekate]

1. Interesting that Nikki Haley was the only one tonight who defended our defense of allies....

Interesting that Nikki Haley was the only one tonight who defended our defense of allies….

And she did so very vigorously in the face of Smirky Ramaswamy, who wants to give away Taiwan and Ukraine, and let Israel stand alone.

She was correct to say that Ukraine is standing between us and WWIII, because Putin has made his intentions clear. He wants Poland. All of Ukraine. All the Balkans.

She was the only one who sounded interested in foreign policy besides Ramaswamy, who is a damned fool. And she sounded intelligent.

Her audience wasn’t the base — it was the voters of the General Election.

[wolfie001]

2. Communist PRC China wants an Island that.....

....was never a part of China. Taiwan be steadfast. Like Britain in 1939.

[Martin68]

5. The island was annexed in 1683 by the Qing dynasty of China and ceded to the Empire of Japan in

1895. So the island was part of China for at least 212 years. I'm not saying China has a right to annex or invade the island now. I just think the facts are important.

[wolfie001]

6. I just knew I shoud've wikipedia'd that

Thanks

[BlueWavePsych]

3. Meanwhile ... Philippines, US, Australia troops to hold amphibious drills

The Philippines, United States and Australia are set to conduct an amphibious landing military exercise on Friday in a simulation of retaking an island in Zambales, a Philippine Marines official said.

Considering that the venue is close to the West Philippine Sea (WPS), Larida clarified that the activity is not directed against China, saying the drill is “very general."

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/879950/philippines-us-australia-troops-to-hold-amphibious-drills-in-zambales/story/

[Martin68]

4. After watching the Ukraine war, it seems to me what the Taiwanese need most is anti-missile,

anti-aircraft, and anti-ship mobile missile launchers all over the island.