China’s foreign ministry has expressed concern over a potential $1.42 billion sale of U.S.-made missiles, torpedoes and missile components as well as support services for various defense programs to Taiwan, DoD Buzz reported Friday.The report said the Chinese government called for the cancellation of the deal because it presents a challenge to the country’s security interests and does not align with the “One China” policy that it notes the U.S. has previously pledged to support.
Taiwan requested to purchase Standard Missile-2 Block IIIA missiles, AGM-154C Joint Standoff Weapon air-to-ground missiles, AGM-88B anti-radiation missiles, MK 54 lightweight torpedo conversion kits, MK 48 Mod 6AT heavyweight torpedoes, updates to the AN/SLQ-32(V)3 electronic warfare system and surveillance radar sustainment services.
The State Department approved the request and the Defense Security Cooperation Agency subsequently notified Congress of the proposed sale Thursday.
“It shows, we believe, our support for Taiwan’s ability to maintain a sufficient self-defense policy,” State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said, according to DoD Buzz.
“There’s no change, I should point out, to our ‘one-China policy,'” she added.
