US Approves Taiwan's Patriot Missile Upgrade, Beijing: Adhere To One China Principle, Cancel Shipments!

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian. (Twitter/@zlj517)

JAKARTA - The Chinese government through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs urged the United States to immediately cancel its plan to send weapons worth 100 million US dollars or approximately IDR 1.437.695.000.000.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said at a press conference Tuesday that China would take "appropriate measures to protect its security."

"Therefore, China expresses a resolute protest and strongly condemns. We urge the US to strictly adhere to the 'One China' principle and the terms of the three China-US communiqués and to immediately cancel the plans for sending weapons to Taiwan above," Zhao stressed. .

Zhao further stressed that such US actions are very detrimental to China's sovereignty and its interests in security, China-US relations and peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.

"China will continue to take necessary and effective measures to strengthen its sovereignty and ensure its security interests," he added.

Responding to a reporter's question about which actions China would take specifically, the diplomat said: "I ask everyone to wait and you will see."

As previously reported, the United States has approved a possible sale of $100 million worth of equipment and services to Taiwan to maintain, maintain and upgrade the country's Patriot missile defense system, the Pentagon said.

Taiwan Patriot Missile System at Memorial Hall Square. (Wikimedia Commons/玄史生)

A statement from the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said the agency had submitted the certification required to notify Congress, following State Department approval for the sale, which was requested by Taiwan's de facto embassy in Washington.

Upgrades to the Patriot Air Defense System will "help enhance receiver security and help maintain political stability, military balance, economy and progress in the region," the DSCA said in a statement.

"This proposed sale serves US national, economic, and security interests by supporting the recipient's ongoing efforts to modernize its armed forces and to maintain a credible defense capability," the agency said, quoted by Reuters.

Meanwhile, Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it "strongly welcomes" the decision.

"In the face of China's continued military expansion and provocative actions, our country will safeguard its national security with solid defense, and continue to deepen the close security partnership between Taiwan and the United States," the ministry said in a statement.

Taiwan's Ministry of Defense said the decision to acquire the newer Patriot missiles was made during a 2019 meeting with US officials during the Trump administration.

To note, democratically-ruled Taiwan has complained of repeated missions by the Chinese Air Force in its air defense zone, part of what Washington sees as Beijing's efforts to pressure Taipei into accepting its sovereignty.