Washington: The US is ready to give weapons to Taiwan. The US will provide F-16 fighter jets worth $61.9 million. The arms sale package includes 100 AGM high-speed anti-radiation missiles, 200 AIM 120C8 medium-range air-to-air missiles, launchers and dummy missiles for training.
The arms deal is being assessed as a response to China’s encroachment into Taiwan’s airspace yesterday. After the release of the arms deal report, Chinese warplanes also crossed into Taiwan territory on Thursday. It is growing beyond the Taiwan-China issue into a Chinese-US issue.
Earlier, Chinese President Xi Jinping had warned the US not to interfere in the Taiwan issue. However, America’s response was to stand by Taiwan’s legitimate rights and sovereignty. China has claimed Taiwan, an autonomous region, as its province for seven decades.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS: us to give taiwan 619 billion worth of arms
