The State Department Wednesday said that the Obama administration’s latest arms sale to Taiwan indicates “no change” in U.S. policy in the region, and doesn’t violate the U.S.’s “One China Policy.”
The Obama administration notified Congress Wednesday of $1.83 billion in arms sales to Taiwan, the disputed Republic of China. The sale of arms to Taiwan typically rankles China, and has led the country to delay meetings with the U.S. as a result or make other token gestures of disapproval.
Asked why the administration has suddenly decided to make its first sale to Taiwan in four years, spokesman John Kirby said, “We make decisions on arms sales to Taiwan based on our assessment of Taiwan’s defense needs. Period.”
“That’s the only factor,” Kirby added. “Always has been and will continue to be.”
“This is not a new thing, our support to the defense needs of Taiwan,” Kirby said. “These sales are in complete concert with the [One China Policy].”
The One China Policy has been doctrine since 1972, when the United States first stated, “the United States acknowledges that Chinese on either side of the Taiwan Strait maintain there is but one China and that Taiwan is a part of China. The United States does not challenge that position.”
