China is furious with the United States at our latest arms deal with Taiwan. The deal is worth a reported 6.4 billion dollars and includes Patriot missiles, communications equipment, and Black Hawk helicopters. China has long made threats of the United States supplying arms to Taiwan. At the moment, Chinese government has gone on record stating that they will no longer trade weapons with the United States. The U.S. government commented on the trade stating that it will help secure the Taiwan Strait and create more stability in the region. While this sounds incredibly noble, the deal is worth hundreds of millions in profits to US arms companies. Taiwan represents a buying community that was traditionally off limits. However with this new buying community comes the penalty of the loss of military trade with China.
I can’t say that I am surprised that the US has decided to supply Taiwan with arms. In 2008 Bush supplied Taiwan with arms and China reacted by suspending arms trade with the United States. However China quickly came to their senses and lifted the suspension. After an interaction like that there is no reason to suspect that this time would be any different. However China has upped the ante here with more serious sanctions. Analysts are saying that this hard line that China is taking is reflective of their growing influence and power. Beijing still believes that Taiwan is part of its ruling territory, which is why the Chinese are so angered at the new weapons Taiwan will be receiving.
