Beijing has lengthy opposed Washington’s army help for Taipei, seeing it as a violation of the One-China precept
Taiwan plans to deploy new US-supplied missile protection methods by the top of the yr, the Ministry of Nationwide Protection introduced on Friday, as cited by Taipei Information. The Norwegian-made Superior Floor-to-Air Missile Programs (NASAMS) will likely be put in in strategically vital areas within the north of the island, together with Taipei’s Songshan District and New Taipei Metropolis’s Tamsui District.
NASAMS, a mid-range air protection system, can interact plane, unmanned aerial autos, and cruise missiles. It integrates superior radar know-how and a army tactical information hyperlink to counter aerial threats. The US Protection Safety Cooperation Company permitted the sale of three NASAMS to Taiwan as a part of a $2 billion arms bundle introduced in October final yr, which marked the seventeenth arms sale to Taiwan underneath US President Joe Biden’s administration.
Based on the Taiwanese Protection Ministry, the deployment is a part of efforts to strengthen air protection capabilities in response to elevated Chinese language army exercise within the Taiwan Strait. The NASAMS methods will complement current air protection platforms, together with the Tien Chien II (Sky Sword II), Tien Kung (Sky Bow), and Patriot Superior Functionality-3 (PAC-3) missiles.
Taiwan has additionally signed contracts for L-band and non-L-band digital array radar methods, designed to enhance detection charges and resist jamming, the ministry mentioned. These radar methods will likely be distributed nationwide, offering complete protection. The ministry reported that NT$24.3 billion ($737 million) has been allotted for the NASAMS and radar contracts.
The announcement comes as tensions proceed between Beijing and Taipei over Taiwan’s political standing. China views the self-governing island as a breakaway province and has vowed to reunify with it, together with by power if essential. Taiwan rejects Beijing’s claims and insists upon its sovereignty. The federal government in Taipei has condemned Beijing’s frequent army drills close to the island as provocative and detrimental to regional peace.
Whereas the US formally adheres to the One-China coverage, recognizing Beijing’s declare to Taiwan, it has maintained strong army help for the island. In December, the US Senate permitted a $895 billion protection invoice that included quite a few measures meant to bolster army help for Taipei.
Beijing has strongly opposed US actions, imposing sanctions on seven US protection corporations in December 2024 and banning gross sales of dual-use merchandise to twenty-eight American army suppliers earlier this month, citing violations of the One-China precept.
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