US Approves Military Sale to Taiwan Amid Strained US-China Trade Relations

The State Department approved a potential military sale to Taiwan worth $180 million, according to a May 20 press release from the Defense Security Cooperation Agency. The sale includes 18 “Advanced Technology Heavy Weight Torpedoes” and other equipment. There are no prime contractors for the sale, which will be procured from U.S. Navy stocks.

China’s Foreign Ministry criticized the deal, saying during a May 21 press conference that the country “firmly opposes U.S. arms sales to Taiwan,” in response to a question about the State Department action from a Reuters reporter. A ministry spokesperson urged the U.S. to reverse the sale “lest it should further harm China-U.S. relations and cross-strait peace and stability.”