US approves $2.2bn arms sale to Taiwan

The US State Department has approved a potential arms sale to Taiwan, estimated to be worth $2.2bn (£1.76bn), the Pentagon said on Monday.

The deal is for 108 M1A2T Abrams tanks, 250 Stinger missiles and related equipment.

China’s foreign ministry expressed anger about the sale and urged the United States to revoke it. The timing is especially sensitive as the Washington and Beijing are seeking to resolve a bitter trade war.

Spokesman Geng Shuang said the action "grossly interferes in China's internal affairs and undermines China's sovereignty and security interests".

“China is strongly dissatisfied and firmly opposed to this and has already made stern representations to the US side,” Geng told a daily news briefing.

“Taiwan is an inseparable part of China’s territory and nobody should underestimate the Chinese government’s and people’s firm determination to defend the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and oppose foreign interference.”

He also accused the US of violating the One China policy, under which the US recognises and has only formal ties with China and not Taiwan.

China regards Taiwan as part of its territory which should be reunited with the mainland, by force if necessary.

The Pentagon’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency said in a statement that the sale of weapons would not alter the basic military balance in the region.

The DSCA has notified Congress of the possible arms deal.

Its members have 30 days to raise objections, but are not expected to do so.

The possible sale comes amid ongoing tensions between Washington and Beijing, notably over trade.

Taiwan's Presidential Office expressed "sincere gratitude" to the US - which is the main arms supplier to Taiwan.

A spokesman for Taiwan's president told Reuters news agency that the island would "continue to deepen security ties with the US".