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Generational Dynamics Web Log for 10-Jul-2019
10-Jul-19 World View -- US approves sophisticated weapons sales to Taiwan, despite China's fury

Web Log - July, 2019

10-Jul-19 World View -- US approves sophisticated weapons sales to Taiwan, despite China's fury

Pundits fear conflict with US-China trade talks

by John J. Xenakis

This morning's key headlines from GenerationalDynamics.com

US approves sophisticated weapons sales to Taiwan, despite China's fury
Pundits fear conflict with US-China trade talks

US approves sophisticated weapons sales to Taiwan, despite China's fury

The US State Dept. has approved the sale of sophisticated weapons to Taiwan. The sales will include 250 Stinger anti-aircraft missiles and 108 General Dynamics M1A2T Abrams tanks.

According to a statement from the Dept. of Defense:

"This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security and defensive capability of the recipient, an important force for political stability, military balance, and economic progress in the region.
The recipient intends to use these defense articles and services to modernize its armed forces and expand its existing air defense architecture to counter threats. This will contribute to the recipient military's goal to update its capability while further enhancing greater interoperability between the recipient, the U.S., and other partners. The recipient will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment into its armed forces.
The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region."

Although the statement sales that the sale "will not alter the basic military balance in the region," it's clear that the intended purpose is to allow Taiwan to defend itself against an attack by China. China has stated that it will, as a last resort, invade Taiwan in order to annex it to China, as it has already illegally annexed the South China Sea to China.

The intent is that anti-aircraft missiles will permit Taiwan to defend against a missile attack by China, and the tanks will permit Taiwan to defend itself from a land attack by China.

According to a tweet by Taiwan's president Tsai Ing-wen:

"Pleased that the #US government has approved another arms sale package, boosting #Taiwan’s self-defense capabilities. We’ll continue to speed up investment in national defense, & partner with like-minded countries to defend democracy while promoting regional peace and stability. pic.twitter.com/dw4Rw58hYb Tsai Ing-wen (@iingwen) July 9, 2019"

However, China's Foreign Ministry responded harshly:

"The US arms sale to Taiwan gravely violates international law and basic norms in international relations, seriously breaches the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiques, flagrantly interferes in China's domestic affairs and harms China's sovereignty and security interests. China deplores and resolutely opposes it. We have lodged stern representations with the US.
Taiwan is an inalienable part of the Chinese territory. No one should underestimate the Chinese government and people's will and resolve to defend our sovereignty and national integrity against foreign interference. We urge the US to stay committed to the one-China principle and the three joint communiques, cancel this arms sale immediately and stop military ties with Taiwan to prevent further damage to China-US relations and peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait."

As I've written in the past, China does not want a war with the US. However, China is planning a war of extermination against Japan, in revenge for Japan's atrocities in World War II, and also a war of annexation against Taiwan. China is developing a huge arsenal of missiles and ships to attack the United States because the Chinese know that the US will defend Japan and Taiwan when they're attacked by China.

Pundits fear conflict with US-China trade talks

A number of commentators are complaining about the timing of this announcement of arms sales to Taiwan because it will further complicate the US-China trade talks. The US and China were close to an agreement in May, when the Chinese negotiators reneged on all their written commitments.

The reality is there will never be a US-China trade agreement, because China will never give up its illegal trade practices and illegal theft of foreign intelligence and intellectual property, no matter what Donald Trump or anyone else does, whether the US sells arms to Taiwan or not.

As usual, the mainstream media are totally baffled by Trump's foreign policy. The purpose of the US-China trade talks is only partially about trade. It's mostly about derailing China's headlong rush into launching World War III. As I've said many times in the past, World War III is 100% certain, and cannot be prevented. However, I'm not going to criticize Trump for taking steps to prevent WW III, even if it's impossible to prevent World War III.

Sources:

Taiwan arms / Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Geng Shuang's Regular Press Conference on July 9, 2019 (Foreign Ministry, China, 9-Jul-2019)

US approves $2.2bn Taiwan arms sale despite Chinese ire (BBC, 9-Jul-2019)

China is urging the US to cancel a $2.2 billion arms sale to Taiwan (CNBC, 9-Jul-2019)

US approves possible $2.2bn arms sale to Taiwan (Al Jazeera, 9-Jul-2019)

State Dept: US arms sales to Taiwan (Defense Security Cooperation Agency, 8-Jul-2019)

(Comments: For reader comments, questions and discussion, see the Generational Dynamics World View News thread of the Generational Dynamics forum. Comments may be posted anonymously.) (10-Jul-2019) Permanent Link
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Generational Dynamics Web Log for 10-Jul-2019 10-Jul-19 World View -- US approves sophisticated weapons sales to Taiwan, despite China's fury

US approves sophisticated weapons sales to Taiwan, despite China's fury

Pundits fear conflict with US-China trade talks

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Generational Dynamics Web Log for 10-Jul-2019
10-Jul-19 World View -- US approves sophisticated weapons sales to Taiwan, despite China's fury