US okays sale of military equipment worth $108 mn to Taiwan despite China's objections

In a major setback for China, United States has green-lighted potential sale of military weapons and or services to Taiwan, Pentagon announced on Friday. According to a Kyodo News report, US State Department has approved sale of $108 million worth of spare and repair parts for tanks and or assistance to self-ruled democratic island that Beijing claims as its own.

This move will contribute to "sustainment of recipient's vehicles, small arms, combat weapon systems, and logistical support items, enhancing its ability to meet current and future threats," an agency under Defense Department said in a press release. This comes after Taiwan's embassy in United States requested war equipment.

Notably, this sale will not only strengn security power of Taipei, but it will also help country maintain its military capability while furr enhancing interoperability with United States and or partners, said press release. After civil war that occurred in 1949, Taiwan and mainland China are governed separately, but China sees Taiwan as part of its own and believes that it will one day be reunified, by force if required.

In 1979, America shifted its diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to Beijing. However, Washington continues to maintain unofficial relations with Taipei and continues to help democratic island maintain a sufficient self-defence capability.

Tensions between China and Taiwan

relationship between China and Taiwan has been controversial due to political dispute over land, which is directly associated with official status of Taiwan. At end of World War 2, Taiwan was transferred from Japan to China in 1945. PRC and ROC split after Chinese Civil War. At same time, Republic of China government led by Kuomintang (KMT) retreated to Taiwan and established provisional capital in Taipei. 

After this incident, relationship between Beijing and Taipei has remained unstable and controversial. However, on several occasions, China has asked democratic island to get unified with China, but Taipei has always chosen to be an independent state, which China says will not last for very long. 

(Image: AP/Representative)