Beijing has lengthy opposed Washington’s army assist for Taipei, seeing it as a violation of the One-China precept
Taiwan plans to deploy new US-supplied missile protection techniques by the top of the yr, the Ministry of Nationwide Protection introduced on Friday, as cited by Taipei Information. The Norwegian-made Superior Floor-to-Air Missile Techniques (NASAMS) will likely be put in in strategically important areas within the north of the island, together with Taipei’s Songshan District and New Taipei Metropolis’s Tamsui District.
NASAMS, a mid-range air protection system, can have interaction plane, unmanned aerial automobiles, and cruise missiles. It integrates superior radar expertise and a army tactical knowledge hyperlink to counter aerial threats. The US Protection Safety Cooperation Company authorised the sale of three NASAMS to Taiwan as a part of a $2 billion arms bundle introduced in October final yr, which marked the seventeenth arms sale to Taiwan below US President Joe Biden’s administration.
In accordance with the Taiwanese Protection Ministry, the deployment is a part of efforts to strengthen air protection capabilities in response to elevated Chinese language army exercise within the Taiwan Strait. The NASAMS techniques will complement current air protection platforms, together with the Tien Chien II (Sky Sword II), Tien Kung (Sky Bow), and Patriot Superior Functionality-3 (PAC-3) missiles.
Taiwan has additionally signed contracts for L-band and non-L-band digital array radar techniques, designed to enhance detection charges and resist jamming, the ministry mentioned. These radar techniques will likely be distributed nationwide, offering complete protection. The ministry reported that NT$24.3 billion ($737 million) has been allotted for the NASAMS and radar contracts.
The announcement comes as tensions proceed between Beijing and Taipei over Taiwan’s political standing. China views the self-governing island as a breakaway province and has vowed to reunify with it, together with by power if vital. Taiwan rejects Beijing’s claims and insists upon its sovereignty. The federal government in Taipei has condemned Beijing’s frequent army drills close to the island as provocative and detrimental to regional peace.
Whereas the US formally adheres to the One-China coverage, recognizing Beijing’s declare to Taiwan, it has maintained strong army assist for the island. In December, the US Senate authorised a $895 billion protection invoice that included quite a few measures supposed to bolster army assist for Taipei.
Beijing has strongly opposed US actions, imposing sanctions on seven US protection corporations in December 2024 and banning gross sales of dual-use merchandise to twenty-eight American army suppliers earlier this month, citing violations of the One-China precept.
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