The planned arms deal was announced days after the US State Department imposed sanctions on a key Chinese military unit and its director for buying Russian fighter jets and surface-to-air missiles – a move that inflamed tensions amid the spiralling trade war. Chinese analysts said the latest moves showed all aspects of China-US relations – from trade to security – were under strain, and Beijing was likely to retaliate. “Beijing is much more confident now, and it’s in a better position to take countermeasures than it was before,” said Shen Dingli, director of the Programme on Arms Control and Regional Security at Fudan University in Shanghai. “The US has to work with other countries, including China, in areas like counterterrorism, non-proliferation, anti-money laundering and infectious disease control,” he said. “It can’t expect China to cooperate whenever it makes a demand while it is hurting China’s interests.” This year’s arms deal is relatively small compared with previous years and it involves maintenance and spare parts, which will not make much difference to the power balance across the strait, said Pang Zhongying, a foreign affairs expert at the Ocean University of China. But he said it was the timing of the announcement that had infuriated Beijing, coming so soon after the sanctions were imposed. This will be the second US arms deal to Taiwan under the administration of US President Donald Trump after it agreed to sell a US$1.4 billion weapons package, mainly missiles, to the island last year. Hong Kong-based military commentator Song Zhongping said there was likely to be a much bigger and more sensitive deal announced next year – possibly including the powerful M1A2 tanks that Taiwan has asked for – after the US Congress passed the National Defence Authorisation Act, pledging to sell more weapons to the island. “US arms sales to Taiwan are a long-term matter. The smaller deal this year means they could be building up to challenge Beijing with something bigger in the future,” Song said.
Chinese analysts said the latest moves showed all aspects of China-US relations – from trade to security – were under strain, and Beijing was likely to retaliate. Beijing is much more confident now, and it’s in a better position to take countermeasures than it was before This year’s arms deal is relatively small compared with previous years said Pang a foreign affairs expert at the Ocean University of China. But he said it was the timing of the announcement that had infuriated Beijing Hong Kong-based military commentator Song said US arms sales to Taiwan are a long-term matter The smaller deal means they could be building up to challenge Beijing with something bigger in the future,