The United States approved the prospective sale of arms to Taiwan for $1.1 billion, escalating already high tensions between Washington and Beijing.
Defense Security Cooperation Agency, a division of the Pentagon, announced on Friday that the weaponry package would include 60 anti-ship missiles, 100 air-to-air missiles, and contractor logistical assistance for a surveillance radar program.
The proposed US arms agreement was originally disclosed this week by US news site Politico, according to Al Jazeera.
Congress still has the power to reject the deal, although this is unlikely given how well-supported Taiwan is by US members from both major parties.
According to a US Department of State spokesman who cleared the transaction, the package was "essential" to boost Taiwan's defence.
According to the spokesperson, The proposed purchases "are routine cases to support Taiwan's continuing efforts to modernize its armed forces and to maintain a credible defensive capability."
China Warns of 'Countermeasures' Against US
The Pentagon's statement comes amid deteriorating US-China ties. China has not ruled out using military force to seize control of Taiwan, a self-governed island it claims is part of its territory.
Following the Biden administration's approval of more than $1.1 billion in military sales to Taiwan, China has threatened the United States that it will take "countermeasures."
China has "firmly opposed" the sales, which "severely jeopardize" China-US ties and peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait," according to Liu Pengyu, spokesperson for the Chinese embassy.
Liu also urged Washington to revoke the deal "immediately."
Liu's remarks on Twitter come after the Biden administration Friday officially informed Congress of the proposed sales.
However, China has charged that the US is meddling in what it considers to be its domestic affairs.
Despite never being in control of Taiwan, China's Communist Party considers it part of its territory and has long promised to "reunite" the island with the Chinese mainland, using force if necessary.
Liu tweeted: "By providing armaments to Taiwan, the US meddles in China's internal affairs and threatens China's sovereignty and security interests."
It seriously jeopardizes China-US ties as well as peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and sends incorrect signals to separatist groups pushing for Taiwan's independence, according to Liu.
He concluded his string of tweets by stating that China will "resolutely take legitimate and necessary countermeasures" and urged the US to "honor its commitments to the one-China principle," as per a report from CNN.
Increasing US-China Tensions Over Taiwan
Hostility and strong language between the US and China over Taiwan have intensified since Nancy Pelosi visited in August.
Since Pelosi's journey to Taipei, there have been at least two other congressional visits and several trips by US state governors, all of which have drawn criticism from China.
In a move highlighting the escalating tensions, Taiwan's military said on Thursday that it shot down a drone hovering over one of its island outposts close off the coast of China, The Guardian reported.
A day earlier, Taiwan claimed to have sent a warning to drones overflying three of the islands it controls off the coast of Xiamen, a port city in China.
As part of a 12.9 percent rise in the defence ministry's yearly budget next year, Tsai's administration has advocated for anti-drone defences. That would increase defence spending by $NTD47.5 billion (US$1.6 billion), for a total of $NTD415.1 billion.
Two guided missile cruisers were sent through the Taiwan Strait in retaliation for the US calling the Chinese drills in August a grave overreaction. China has proclaimed the Taiwan Strait to be its sovereign territory.
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