US approves major arms sale to Taiwan amid trade tensions with Beijing

[DonViejo]

Source: CNN



By Ryan Browne, CNN

Updated 10:20 PM ET, Mon July 8, 2019

(CNN)The Trump administration has approved selling Abrams tanks and Stinger missiles to Taiwan, a major potential arms sale that is bound to irk Beijing and comes as the administration seeks to negotiate a major trade agreement with China.

Congress was notified Monday that the State Department had approved both potential sales, which include 108 M1A2T Abrams tanks, plus related equipment, and some 250 Stinger missiles.

Both types of equipment had been requested by Taiwan.

Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen said in March that the weaponry she had requested from Washington would "greatly enhance our land and air capabilities, strengthen military morale and show to the world the US commitment to Taiwan's defense."

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2019/07/08/politics/us-arms-sale-taiwan/index.html

[padah513]

1. Gee, I wonder how China's gonna take the news

Probably can kiss any agreement on trade goodbye for a while

[ripcord]

3. Oh well

Appeasing the PRC is getting old, after more than 50 years Taiwan is an independent country regardless of how far mainland China has their head stuck in the sand or somewhere else.

[Everyman Jackal]

4. Both the PRC and Taiwan agree that Taiwan is not an independent country.

They both say that there is only one China. The thing they do not agree on is which government is the legitimate one.

[Judi Lynn]

2. Showing the world how it's done Trump Style. n/t

[EX500rider]

5. Some reason Taiwan should not be able to purchase weapons for their military? nt