US Pushes Unprecedented 7 Major Weapons Systems Sales To Taiwan At Once

[727Sky]

https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/u...aiwan-once

This should get the CCP's bowels in an uproar if it goes through. With the bought and paid for CCP moles in our congress I do wonder if it will be approved ?

Despite Beijing's threats centered on the 'red line' of the Taiwan issue, Washington only looks to ramp up its arms sales, which will no doubt earn more condemnations alleging violation of the 'One China' policy. 

Reuters points out the US is content to further build up 'Fortress Taiwan' while "needling China" - as it "plans to sell as many as seven major weapons systems, including mines, cruise missiles and drones to Taiwan, four people familiar with the discussions said, as the Trump administration ramps up pressure on China."
Via Asia Times: "Taiwan's military will soon receive 18 MK-48 Mod 6 Advanced Technology Heavy Weight Torpedoes from the US to counter China's rising threat." Photo: US Navy
The Trump administration is throwing caution to the wind, given the reality is that this many sales at once is "a rare departure from years of precedent in which U.S. military sales to the island were spaced out and carefully calibrated to minimize tensions with Beijing."
Here's Taiwan's shopping list, in various phases of passing US legal hurdles and discussions, according to the new Reuters report:

• Drones that can see over the horizon for surveillance and targeting, coupled with advanced missiles and coastal defenses that include smart mines and anti-submarine capabilities to impede a sea invasion...
  
• A Lockheed Martin-made High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), essentially a truck-based rocket launcher, is among the weapons Taiwan wants, people familiar with the negotiations said.
  
• at least four large sophisticated aerial drones to Taiwan for what could be about $600 million.
  
• under discussion are land-based Boeing-made Harpoon anti-ship missiles to serve as a coastal defense against cruise missiles.
  
• Other systems include "underwater sea mines and other capabilities to deter amphibious landing, or immediate attack," Taiwan's de facto ambassador here to United States said in July.
  

Anti-tank missile systems are also said to be under consideration, at a moment Chinese PLA naval and aerial drills near the island have been on the uptick.
Beijing has repeatedly signaled that it considers reunification as a landmark mission and won't stand idly by as external forces intervene in what it sees as inter-China affairs.
PLA fighters jets, via Xinhua

And as South China Morning Post recently warned, "Unlike other areas of territorial contention, such as in the South China Sea, analysts say Beijing will show no flexibility on this issue and has not ruled out force to reunify Taiwan with the mainland."

[F2d5thCav]

No doubt ChiFi is already outraged.

Cheers

[727Sky]

https://www.bangkokpost.com/world/198709...ying-china
US sends top-level diplomat to Taiwan, defying China

US Undersecretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy and the Environment Keith Krach will be the latest high-ranking US official to visit Taiwan

TAIPEI - A top US diplomat will arrive in Taiwan on Thursday, the highest-ranking State Department official to visit in 40 years, in a further sign of Washington's willingness to defy China and its campaign to isolate the self-ruled island.
Keith Krach, undersecretary of state for economic growth, energy and the environment, was heading to Taipei to attend a memorial service for late president Lee Teng-hui on Saturday, the US State Department said.
The trip, the second high-ranking US visit in as many months, is likely to rile China, which baulks at any recognition of Taiwan and has mounted a decades-long policy of marginalising the democratic island.
Relations between the United States and China are at their lowest point in decades, with the two sides clashing over a range of trade, military and security issues, as well as the coronavirus pandemic.
"The United States honours President Lee's legacy by continuing our strong bonds with Taiwan and its vibrant democracy through shared political and economic values," spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said in a statement announcing Krach's trip.
Taiwan's foreign ministry said Krach, accompanied by assistant secretary Robert Destro, would also discuss "how to strengthen bilateral economic cooperation" during his three-day visit.
It described him as the highest-ranking State Department official to visit Taiwan since 1979, when Washington switched diplomatic recognition to Beijing from Taipei.
Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen will host a dinner for the US delegation on Friday.
"We look forward to more exchanges and discussions between Taiwan and the US to solidify the foundation for further collaborations, including economic cooperation, through undersecretary Krach's visit," her office said in a statement.
- Warming relations -
Beijing, whose relations with Washington have sharply deteriorated under President Donald Trump, has warned it "firmly opposes" any official exchanges between Taiwan and the United States.
Last month, US cabinet member and health chief Alex Azar visited to highlight Taiwan's widely praised efforts to stop Covid-19.
Beijing considers Taiwan part of its territory, to be reunified with the mainland -- by force if necessary.
It has ramped up diplomatic, economic and military pressure on Taiwan since the 2016 election of Tsai, who rejects its view that the island is part of "one China".
In recent weeks, Taiwan has reported a sharp increase in incursions by Chinese jets into its air defence identification zone.
On Thursday, Taiwan's defence ministry said two Chinese anti-submarine planes crossed the boundary a day earlier and were warned to leave.
Washington remains the leading arms supplier to the island but has historically been cautious in holding official contact with it.
Relations have warmed dramatically under Trump, who has embraced Taiwan more closely as a way to hit back at authoritarian Beijing, especially as he seeks re-election in November.
But the United States has so far not strayed from the unwritten red line on Taiwan, as it has not sent senior officials whose primary responsibilities are foreign affairs or defence.
Lee, who died in July at the age of 97, was a towering figure in Taiwan's history, helping the once authoritarian island transition to a vibrant democracy and later angering China by pushing for it to be recognised as a sovereign country.
When news of his death broke, Chinese state media called him "the godfather of Taiwan secessionism".
Krach, with his economic focus, will be visiting as Taiwan seeks a trade deal with the United States.
Taiwan removed a major hurdle last month by easing safety restrictions on US beef and pork -- welcome news for farmers, a key constituency for Trump, as the election approaches.

[727Sky]

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-taiwa...SKBN2680Y0

BEIJING/TAIPEI (Reuters) - China will make a “necessary response” to a visit by U.S. Undersecretary for Economic Affairs Keith Krach to Chinese-claimed Taiwan, and has lodged a complaint with Washington, the foreign ministry said on Thursday ahead of his arrival.

Slideshow ( 3 images )
Krach, who arrived in Taipei on Thursday afternoon, is in Taiwan for a memorial service on Saturday for former President Lee Teng-hui, who was revered by many on the island and internationally as the father of Taiwan’s democracy.
Krach is expected to meet Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen on Friday.
His visit follows one last month by U.S. Health Secretary Alex Azar, the highest-level U.S. official to come to the democratic island in four decades.
Speaking in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said China has lodged “stern representations” with Washington about Krach’s trip, and that it opposed any official exchanges between the United States and Taiwan.
The visit will give succour to the forces of Taiwan independence and damage Sino-U.S. ties, Wang said.
“We urge the U.S. side to fully recognise the extreme sensitivity of the Taiwan issue,” Wang said. “China will make a necessary response depending on how the situation develops.”
He did not give details.
Relations between China and the United States have nosedived in recent months, with disagreements over Taiwan, trade, human rights, the coronavirus pandemic and other issues.
China views Taiwan’s president as a dangerous separatist. She says the island is already an independent country called the Republic of China, Taiwan’s formal name.
Krach is also likely to hold at least some form of trade talks during his trip, though details have not been announced.
Taiwan has long sought a free trade deal with the United States, but Washington has complained about barriers to access for U.S. pork and beef. Taiwan said that was for health reasons, especially with concern over mad cow disease and additives.
However, late last month, Tsai said her government could ease restrictions on pork and beef imports, allowing in U.S. pork containing ractopamine, an additive that enhances leanness, and allow in U.S. beef from cattle more than 30 months old.
But this has run into domestic objections. Taiwan’s main opposition party, the Kuomintang, last weekend began collecting signatures for a referendum to block the pork imports, saying ractopamine was a health threat.