TAIPEI: The United States has approved $330 million-worth of parts and equipment in its first military sale to Taiwan since US President Donald Trump’s return to the White House, the island’s foreign ministry said Friday.
While the United States does not recognize Taiwan’s claim to statehood, Washington is Taipei’s biggest arms supplier and a key deterrent to China potentially launching an attack on the democratic island.
Beijing claims Taiwan is part of its territory and has threatened to use force to bring it under its control. China’s foreign ministry on Friday expressed anger at the arms sale to Taiwan, saying China will do what is necessary to defend its sovereignty, territorial integrity and security.
“This marks the first time the new Trump administration has announced an arms sale to Taiwan,” the foreign ministry said, after the US State Department approved the package.
Taiwan requested “non-standard components, spare and repair parts, consumables and accessories, and repair and return support for F-16, C-130, and Indigenous Defense Fighter (IDF) aircraft,” a statement posted on the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency said.
Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te’s government has vowed to ramp up defense spending as China maintains military pressure around the island.
While Taiwan has its own defense industry, the island’s military would be massively outgunned in a conflict with China and remains heavily reliant on US arms.
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US approves first military sale to Taiwan since Trump’s return
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US approves first military sale to Taiwan since Trump’s return
- While the United States does not recognize Taiwan’s claim to statehood, Washington is Taipei’s biggest arms supplier and a key deterrent to China potentially launching an attack on the democratic island
- China’s foreign ministry on Friday expressed anger at the arms sale
Hot winds fan dozens of bushfires across eastern Australia
SYDNEY: Dozens of bushfires burned along Australia’s eastern seaboard on Saturday, destroying several houses as a blistering heatwave set in.
More than 50 bushfires were burning in New South Wales on Saturday afternoon, the state’s Rural Fire Service said, although the vast majority were considered “under control.”
A blaze north of Sydney had destroyed six houses, national broadcaster ABC said, while a small number of homes were lost in a bushfire on the state’s mid-north coast.
One bushfire had burned through more than 9,000 hectares (20,000 acres) in the Goulburn River National Park.
Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Dean Narramore said hot and dry winds were fanning temperatures across the state nearing 40C.
“This is a dangerous few hours,” he said.
“Unfortunately this heat has been associated with hot and gusty winds as well, and that’s what really driving these dangerous and extreme fire dangers.”
Bushfires are a common occurrence in Australia’s summer months, and it is not unheard for dozens of blazes to burn through sparsely populated areas on hot and windy days.
More than 50 bushfires were burning in New South Wales on Saturday afternoon, the state’s Rural Fire Service said, although the vast majority were considered “under control.”
A blaze north of Sydney had destroyed six houses, national broadcaster ABC said, while a small number of homes were lost in a bushfire on the state’s mid-north coast.
One bushfire had burned through more than 9,000 hectares (20,000 acres) in the Goulburn River National Park.
Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Dean Narramore said hot and dry winds were fanning temperatures across the state nearing 40C.
“This is a dangerous few hours,” he said.
“Unfortunately this heat has been associated with hot and gusty winds as well, and that’s what really driving these dangerous and extreme fire dangers.”
Bushfires are a common occurrence in Australia’s summer months, and it is not unheard for dozens of blazes to burn through sparsely populated areas on hot and windy days.
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