In the US, the administration led by President Donald Trump notified Taiwan on Monday about a plan to sell Harpoon missile systems for $ 2.37 billion. Hours earlier, China announced sanctions on US defence companies, including Boeing. Boeing is the main contractor company in the Harpoon deal.
“The United States has an interest in maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits, and the United States considers Taiwan’s security vital to the security and stability of the border Indo-Pacific region,” the Foreign Ministry said. He said that this sale would not change the military balance in the area. The harpoon is capable of attacking missile ships and land targets. Boeing said the missile is capable of carrying 500 pounds of armament. It is capable of targeting coastal defence sites, surface-to-air missile sites, aircraft, ships in ports, ports and industrial centres.
Earlier, China said on Monday that it would ban top US defence companies, including Boeing and Lockheed Martin, for supplying arms to Taiwan. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian had said, “China has stated on several occasions that selling American arms to Taiwan” is disregarding Chinese policy as well as defying sovereignty and security interests. We strongly condemn this.
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He had said, “We have decided to take the necessary steps to protect our interests.” We will ban US companies involved in arms sales. He said that the companies that would be banned include Boeing, Lockheed Martin and Raytheon.
China and Taiwan split in the 1949 civil war and have no diplomatic relations. China claims that the island with democratic leadership is part of its mainland. China keeps threatening to attack him.
