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China today promised “legitimate and necessary” retaliation to “protect its sovereignty and security interests” after the US government announced on Monday the sale of 100 Harpoon maritime defense systems and 400 such missiles for a value. of 2,370. Millions of dollars.
“China urges the United States to suspend all its arms sales to the island. We reserve the right to take legitimate and necessary retaliation to protect our sovereignty and security interests, “Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said Tuesday, quoted in the local press.
The government headed by Donad Trump yesterday notified the US Congress of this sale – which includes 400 Harpoon Block II RGM-84L-4 surface missiles – for approval.
In addition to the Harpoon Coastal Defense Systems and 400 other Harpoon Block II RGM-84L-4 missiles, the new sale includes four Harpoon Block II RTM-84L-4 missiles and 25 radar trucks, spare parts, support and training equipment.
To this sale must be added another 1,800 million dollars (1,519 million euros) related to a different pre-agreement for three batches of weapons that include SLAM-ER missiles and HIMARS units, a light multiple missile launch system, sources confirm today. of the Taiwanese Ministry of Defense in Efe.
On Monday, in response to a question about that pre-deal worth $ 1.8 billion, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian announced, without specifying what they consisted of, the imposition of sanctions on US producers. Lockheed Martin, Boeing. Defense and Raytheon.
State Department provocation
“Taiwan is working to maintain peace and stability in the region,” spokeswoman Joanne Ou said Monday in a statement collected by CNA news agency, adding that “in response to pressure from China, our government has a responsibility to protect its population.
According to the US State Department, the sale includes equipment “necessary to allow (Taiwan) to maintain sufficient self-defense capabilities.”
The Hong Kong newspaper South China Morning Post recently assured that “Beijing is advancing in the militarization of its southeastern coast to prepare for a possible invasion of Taiwan,” according to Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) sources, which allegedly deployed hypersonic missiles there. Mid-range DF-17.
Taiwan has been considered a sovereign territory with its own government and political system under the name of the Republic of China since the end of the civil war between nationalists and communists in 1949, but Beijing claims it is a rebellious province and insists it return to what it is. called common homeland.
The Trump administration has prioritized strengthening relations with Taiwan, including arms sales, despite Washington severing its informal relations with Taipei in 1979 after recognizing the People’s Republic.
EFE
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