US mulling joint production of weapons with Taiwan: Official

The United States is considering a plan to jointly produce weapons with Chinese Taipei, a business lobby says, as tensions continue between Washington and Beijing over the self-ruled island.

On Wednesday, Rupert Hammond-Chambers, president of the US-Taiwan Business Council, an initiative aimed at accelerating arms transfers to bolster Taipei’s military against mainland China’s, said of the controversial plan, “It’s right at the beginning of the process. It’s a piece of the puzzle, not a game changer.”

Japan’s Nikkei newspaper first reported the plan, citing three unnamed sources.

Hammond-Chambers added that it was yet to be determined what weapons would be considered part of the joint production plan, though it would likely focus on supplying Taiwan with more munitions and long-established missile technology.

He said that for any such move, it was necessary for weapons manufacturers to obtain co-production licenses from the State and Defense departments.

China has sovereignty over Taipei, and under the internationally-recognized “one-China” policy, nearly all countries recognize that sovereignty, meaning that they would not establish diplomatic contact with its secessionist government.

The US, too, professes adherence to the principle, but in violation of its own stated policy and in an attempt to irritate Beijing, Washington courts the secessionist government in Taipei, supports its anti-China stance, and supplies it with massive amounts of armaments.

Since 2017, the US has approved more than $20 billion in weapons sales to Taipei.

“The United States is looking at all options to ensure the rapid transfer of defensive capabilities to Taiwan,” Reuters quoted a US State Department spokesperson as saying.

“The United States’ swift provision of Taiwan defensive weaponry and sustainment via Foreign Military Sale and Direct Commercial Sale is essential for Taiwan’s security and we will continue to work with industry to support that goal,” the spokesperson added.

China committed to Taiwan peaceful reunification, but will use forces if necessary: Xi

China

The US has for decades sold weapons to Taipei, despite repeated warnings from Beijing, but a new Senate legislation, known as the Taiwan Policy Act of 2022, will go further by providing US security assistance of $4.5 billion over four years. The legislation also recommends sanctions on China if it uses force to try to take over the island militarily.

Last month, China's English-language paper Global Times warned that if the controversial bill is passed, it will amount to the cancellation of Washington’s one-China policy and China will take strong countermeasures.

Beijing, which has repeatedly warned the US against official ties with Taiwan, says the US contacts with Taiwan and the weapon sales to the island are a violation of China’s sovereignty.

On Sunday, China’s leader Xi Jinping reiterated that China would never renounce the right to use force over Taiwan, but that it would strive for peaceful unification.

US Senate takes first step to provide billions of dollars in military aid to Taiwan

The United States is moving closer to directly providing billions of dollars in military aid to Chinese Taipei (Taiwan), upping the ante against China which has warned Washington not to do it.

Xi will be ‘sinner’ if he attacks Taiwan: Taiwanese official

On Thursday, Chen Ming-tong, head of Taipei’s National Security Bureau, denounced President Xi for his position toward Taiwan, saying that he would be a “sinner” if he attacked the self-ruled island.

Taipei’s top security official also warned that the Chinese leader would not win the war as he would face international sanctions and diplomatic isolation.

“There is no possibility of winning in using force to attack Taiwan. Xi would forfeit the so-called great rejuvenation of the Chinese people, and become a sinner of the Chinese people,” Chen said, using a term that refers to those who are ethnically Chinese rather than of Chinese nationality.

The Taiwanese official said, “It’s very clear that the two sides should respect each other and develop separately, which is the way that will bring happiness to the people.”

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