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China has warned the United States it will “respond” to a large arms sale that the US approved for Taiwan.
Let’s bring you up to speed: Earlier this week, the State Department approved a $2 billion arms package for Taiwan, including advanced surface-to-air missile systems and radar technology designed to enhance the island’s defense capabilities. The package features medium-range air defense systems valued at $1.16 billion and radar systems. Taiwan’s representative to the US deemed these weapons crucial to its defense. Despite this, China previously warned that such an arms package would cross a red line.

What China’s saying: In a statement following the news, China’s foreign ministry said they would “resolutely respond and take all necessary measures to firmly safeguard national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity.” They added that the “US [must] immediately stop arming Taiwan and immediately stop dangerous actions that undermine peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.”
What Taiwan is saying: In a brief statement, Taiwan’s Defense Ministry expressed gratitude for the US-approved sale and added that it would “help the military continue to improve its defense resilience and jointly maintain peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.”
Digging deeper: Notably, shortly after the announcement, Taiwan’s defense ministry reported an increase in Chinese military activity near its territory. On Sunday, the ministry noted that Chinese warships and aircraft conducted a large ‘combat patrol,’ detecting 19 jets and an undisclosed number of warships.