Why China and the US disagree about arms sales to Taiwan

World Today

Why China and the US disagree about arms sales to Taiwan

The Chinese mainland’s Taiwan affairs office on Wednesday reiterated that it opposed a potential arms deal between the United States and Taiwan.

In 1979, the United States diplomatically recognized the People’s Republic of China. That’s also the year the U.S. severed relations with Taiwan and began non-diplomatic relations with the island.

One of the ways it continues to do that is through the Taiwan Relations Act. The Chinese government says the act is against the spirit of three China-U.S. agreements known as The Three Joint Communiques.

Under the Taiwan Relations Act, American lawmakers vote on whether to provide weapons to Taiwan.
Here are the requirements:
– The weapons are supposed to be defensive
– The decision undergoes a U.S. military review
– The U.S. president has to notify Congress of the sale

So what has the U.S. already sold?
– Missiles
– Submarines
– And aircraft: Black Hawk helicopters and F-16s

The People’s Republic of China has opposed each one of these sales. 
And Chinese diplomats regularly ask their American counterparts to stop selling arms to the region.
The P.R.C. says Chinese Mainland and Taiwan Island are one and should be united peacefully.

In recent years, cross-strait relations have improved. In November, President Xi met with the Taiwanese leader.

At the same time, there is growing worry in Washington that Beijing’s military power eclipses Taipei’s.

Washington last sold arms to Taiwan in 2011. In response to one U.S. sale, Beijing suspended military cooperation with the U.S.

Content from CCTV News contributed to this story. 
Su Xiaohui, Associate Research Fellow of CIIS, China Institute of International Studies, explains why China rejects US arms sales to Taiwan.