The U.S. is moving ahead with a sale of six billion dollars' worth of weapons to Taiwan -- including 330 Patriot interceptor missiles.
The anti-missiles and associated gear account more than $3.1 billion of the approximately $6 billion arms package, announced by the Pentagon's Defense Security Cooperation Agency. Also included are 30 Apache helicopters, 34 sub-launched Harpoon missiles, fighter jet spare parts, and 182 Javelin guided missile rounds.
The package doesn't include Blackhawk helicopters or money to look at new submarines for Taiwan. The Taiwanese can get transport helicopters anywhere and they don't seem to be able to get anyone to sell the subs, so what was left out may not be that significant in the short run.
What it does include are Patriots which are needed to defend against missiles and better Chinese aircraft and attack helicopters that can be a mobile force to strike Chinese naval forces near shore or enemy troops that land on the island. Anti-tank missiles for infantry is a good addition and spare parts to keep fighters in the air will also help.
I especially like the Harpoon missiles for Taiwan's aging submarines. Just having Harpoons in the Taiwanese arsenal makes it easier for us to put our subs into the fight and plausibly deny that all those Harpoons smashing into Chinese ships are ours. "You say 212 Harpoons have hit your ships, Mr. Chinese ambassador? Perhaps you should count again and get back to us."
The good thing is that we aren't abandoning Taiwan and the Taiwanese are actually buying arms to defend themselves.
UPDATE: We deny we've upset the balance and a spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry objects to the sale:
The Defence Security and Cooperation Agency said the proposed sales were aimed at improving Taiwan's defences and would not alter the basic military balance in the region.
But Liu said China firmly opposed arms sales by the United States to Taiwan, according to the Xinhua report.
The proposed deal violated the principles set in three joint communiques between China and the United States, Liu said.
It would grossly interfere in China's internal affairs, endanger national security and disturb the peaceful development of cross-strait relations, he added.
"It is only natural that this move would stir up strong indignation of the Chinese government and people," he said, according to Xinhua.
"We sternly warn the United States that there is only one China in the world, and that Taiwan is a part of China," Liu said.
That peaceful development of cross-strait relations ideally involves Taiwan becoming so weak relative to China that the Taiwanese just give in to threats of force and capitulate. And since the weapons being sold are not suitable for the Yellow Demi-Horde that Taiwan's 23 million people pose to the security of China's 1.3 billion cowering victims, the idea that the sale endangers Chinese security is laughable. Our tobacco lobbyists are amateurs compared to Communist Chinese spokesmen when it comes to making ridiculous claims with a serious expression on their faces.
Remember that stern warning. China wants Taiwan and no amount of cross-strait detente changes that fact. Making Taiwan stronger decreases the risk of war.
