Urges US To Fulfill Its Commitment Not To Support Taipei's Independence, China: Stop Arming Taiwan

President Tsai Ing-wen while reviewing Taiwanese military exercises. (Wikimedia Commons/men's)

China, through its Ministry of Defense on Friday, urged the United States to stop arming Taiwan, after the US State Department approved the possible sale of a $500 million infrared search and tracking system for F-16 fighter jets and other equipment to Taiwan.

"Childs urge the US to effectively fulfill its commitment not to support Taiwan independence, immediately stop arming Taiwan, and stop improving US-Taiwan military relations," ministry spokesman Zhang Xiaogang said in a statement.

Earlier, the US Ministry of Defense said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had approved such sales to Taiwan.

"The proposed sale of equipment and support will not change the basic military balance in the region," the ministry said in a statement. Taiwan's Ministry of Defense said the new equipment would be used on its newest F-16V aircraft, thereby increasing their ability to detect and track long-range targets and "very significantly increase the effectiveness of air operations".

Beijing itself has repeatedly sent military aircraft and drones into airspace near Taiwan, seen as a threat to the island.

It is known that 500 million US dollars is the maximum contract potential value and the actual dollar value will be lower, the Pentagon said. Previously, the US launched a Taiwanese gun aid package worth up to US$345 million late last month.

Despite obtaining approval from the State Department, the notification does not indicate the contract has been signed or negotiations have been completed.

However, Taiwan's Ministry of Defense expects the sale to "act within one month".