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Honorary soldiers hoist the Taiwanese flag in front of the "Taiwan Democracy Memorial Hall" in Taipei
Photo: SAM YEH / AFP
Taiwan and China have been hostile to each other for years, and Beijing has been increasing tensions through military provocations for several months.
Now a new delivery of arms from the USA is fueling the conflict.
Taiwan is to receive military equipment for the navy worth 120 million dollars (around 112 million euros).
The Taipei government welcomed the deal.
The arms deliveries boosted Taiwan's combat readiness, the Defense Ministry said.
It is the fourth US delivery of arms to Taiwan since President Joe Biden took office in January 2021.
Specifically, it is about spare parts for ships and ship systems as well as "logistical technical support".
The Washington government approved the sale on Wednesday.
According to the government in Taipei, it should be completed within a month.
Criticism from Beijing
The Foreign Ministry in Beijing reacted with sharp criticism.
China "resolutely rejects and strongly condemns the arms delivery that has now been decided," said a spokesman for the Foreign Ministry.
The People's Republic of China sees Taiwan, which lies off its south-eastern coast, as a breakaway province that is to be reunited with the mainland - if necessary by military force.
The US has long followed a line of “strategic ambiguity” on this issue: while the US has promised Taiwan support in building up its defense capabilities, it has not expressly promised to come to the island's aid in the event of war.
China has been increasing its military threats towards Taiwan since 2016.
President Tsai Ing-wen took office at the time, rejecting China's territorial claim to the island.
According to a database compiled by the AFP news agency, Taiwan recorded 969 violations of its own airspace by Chinese warplanes in 2021 alone – in 2020 there were 380.
In 2022, more than 470 injuries have already been identified.
mrc/AFP