By Caribbean News Global
USA / TAIWAN – Following the US government’s announcement that it had notified Congress on September 3 (US EST) of a sale of military equipment and services to Taiwan worth approximately US$1.106 billion, Taiwan presidential office spokesperson Xavier Chang (張惇涵) said that the presidential office once again thanked the US government for continuing to acknowledge the critical importance of Taiwan’s national defense requirements, and fulfill its security commitments to Taiwan in accordance with the Taiwan Relations Act and the Six Assurances, says the office of the president, Republic of China, (Taiwan).
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Spokesperson Chang stated that this is the sixth military sale to Taiwan announced during the Biden administration, and the fifth this year. The package includes AIM-9X and AGM-84L armaments, and surveillance radar maintenance services.
Under the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act, the United States is committed to providing Taipei “defense articles and defense services” necessary to enable it to defend itself.
“China’s recent provocative military exercises and ongoing confrontational grey-zone tactics have unilaterally undermined peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and the region. The spokesperson also stated that this sale announced by the US includes surveillance radar maintenance and missiles that Taiwan needs to strengthen its self-defense, while helping our military respond to coercive gray-zone tactics, and enhancing our long-range missile early warning system, thus bolstering our overall defensive combat capabilities,” spokesperson Chang continued.
“President Tsai Ing-wen has reiterated many times, we will not increase tensions or act to provoke, but Taiwan will resolutely show the determination and ability to act in our own self-defence, while safeguarding our sovereignty and national security, continuing to deepen cooperation with like-minded countries, and upholding peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and the Indo-Pacific region.”
Meanwhile, the spokesman for the Chinese embassy, Liu Pengyu, issued a tweet on Saturday, September 3 demanding that the US “immediately revoke” the arms shipment to Taiwan. Claiming that such activity on the part of the US “sends wrong signals to Taiwan independence forces.”
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- Read president Tsai Ing-wen remarks via video at the closing of the 26th Forum 2000 Conference
Addressing the 26th Forum 2000 Conference, president Tsai Ing-wen “emphasized that neither threats nor coercion will shake Taiwan’s resolve to engage with the world, and that Taiwan and its people stand ready to step up cooperation with democracies in areas where we can be helpful.”
The president said that collaboration, support, and information sharing remain key to democratic resilience. Noting that Taiwan has been working diligently to combat authoritarian influence with democracy and freedom as a non-negotiable part of our identity, the president stated that such determination gives Taiwan the resilience to meet challenges head-on and defend against forces seeking to undermine our democratic institutions and the liberal democratic world order.