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Miami Herald
20 hours ago
- Business
- Miami Herald
China's Rival Receives Anti-Ship Boost From US
Taiwan, a self-ruled island claimed by China, has reportedly received missile launch systems from the United States that are designed to sink invading ships. An official from China's Defense Ministry said last week that Beijing opposed any form of what he called "military collusion"-including arms sales-between the U.S. and Taiwan. Newsweek has contacted the Taiwanese Defense Ministry for comment by email. While the U.S. has maintained diplomatic ties with China since 1979, it is required by law-under the Taiwan Relations Act-to provide the island with defensive arms to "resist any attempt to resolve differences" across the Taiwan Strait by means other than peaceful ones. China possesses the world's largest navy by hull count, including amphibious ships designed to project air and ground power in island-landing operations. Beijing has vowed to reserve all "necessary" options, including the use of force, to achieve unification with Taiwan. Citing a source familiar with the matter, the Taiwanese Central News Agency reported on Saturday that the first five Harpoon anti-ship missile launcher vehicles-part of the Harpoon Coastal Defense Systems-had been delivered from the U.S. to Taiwan, along with a radar truck. Newsweek has been unable to independently verify this report. In 2020, the Pentagon's Defense Security Cooperation Agency announced that the U.S. would sell 100 Harpoon Coastal Defense Systems and up to 400 RGM-84L-4 Harpoon Block II surface-launched missiles to Taiwan at an estimated total cost of $2.37 billion. According to its manufacturer, Boeing, the Harpoon Block II missile is armed with a 500-pound penetrating high-explosive warhead and is capable of striking ships more than 77 miles away. Taiwan is scheduled to receive all of its Harpoon Coastal Defense Systems by 2028. During a news conference on June 26, Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang, a spokesperson for the Chinese Defense Ministry, denounced Washington for "misleading Taiwan into the flames of war" through arms sales, adding that such actions harmed Taiwan and undermined the island's interests. In its arms sale announcement in December 2020, the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency said the "highly reliable and effective" land-based Harpoon anti-ship missile system would help Taiwan counter or deter maritime aggressions, coastal blockades and amphibious assaults. "The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region," the agency said, describing the Harpoon missile as an anti-surface warfare weapon with "day, night, and adverse weather, standoff air-to-surface capability." Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang, a spokesperson for the Chinese Defense Ministry, said at a news conference on June 26: "We urge the U.S. side to abide by the one-China principle and the three China-U.S. joint communiqués, and stop sending wrong signals to the 'Taiwan independence' separatist forces." The U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency said in an announcement in 2020: "This proposed sale [of Harpoon Coastal Defense Systems] serves U.S. national, economic, and security interests by supporting the recipient's continuing efforts to modernize its armed forces and to maintain a credible defensive capability." It remains to be seen whether Taiwan will request additional ship-sinking weapons from the U.S. as Washington continues to arm its allies and partners in the western Pacific Ocean-including Australia and Japan-to counter China's growing naval threat. Related Articles Czech Intelligence Reveals China Plan to Crash Into Taiwan Vice President-ElectChina to Hegseth: US on Path to 'Fire and Suffering'Key US Ally Quietly Prepares for China's Pacific War With AmericaFootage Shows China Firing Water Cannon at US Ally Near Disputed Territory 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
03-05-2025
- Business
US gives initial approval for $3.5 billion missile sale to Saudi Arabia before Trump's planned visit
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates -- The United States has given initial approval to sell $3.5 billion worth of air-to-air missiles for Saudi Arabia's fighter jets, the latest proposed arms deal for the region ahead of President Donald Trump 's planned trip to the region later this month. The sale, announced early Saturday, likely will be one of several heralded by Trump on his visit to the kingdom. Saudi Arabia has already said it wants to invest $600 billion in the United States over the next four years, likely as a way to woo Trump to again pick the kingdom for his first formal trip as president. Trump traveled to Italy briefly for Pope Francis' funeral. Trump's 2017 trip to Saudi Arabia upended a tradition of modern U.S. presidents typically first heading to Canada, Mexico or the United Kingdom for their first trip abroad. It also underscored his administration's close ties to the rulers of the oil-rich Gulf states as his eponymous real estate company has pursued deals across the region. The arms sale involves 1,000 AIM-120C-8 advanced medium range air-to-air missiles, guidance sections and other technical support. The missiles will be built by RTX Corp of Tucson, Ariz. The Royal Saudi Air Force has the world's second-largest fleet of F-15 fighter jets after the U.S. 'This proposed sale will support the foreign policy goals and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a partner country that contributes to political stability and economic progress in the Gulf Region,' the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency said in a statement. The proposed sale now goes to the U.S. Congress. Lawmakers typically weigh in on such sales and, in some cases, can block them. Saudi Arabia has faced intense Congressional scrutiny for years, first for launching a war on Yemen's Houthi rebels back in 2015 that saw the kingdom's airstrikes kill civilians. Then a Saudi assassination team killed Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul in 2018. The U.S. intelligence community concluded the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who likely will meet Trump on his visit this month and met with President Joe Biden in his term, ordered the operation against Khashoggi. The kingdom insists the prince was not involved in the killing. Trump maintained close ties to the Gulf states after leaving office. His second administration has already given initial approval for the energy-rich Mideast nation of Qatar to buy eight armed MQ-9B Reaper drones for its military, a purchase estimated to be worth nearly $2 billion.
The Independent
03-05-2025
- Business
- The Independent
US gives initial approval for $3.5 billion missile sale to Saudi Arabia before Trump's planned visit
The United States has given initial approval to sell $3.5 billion worth of air-to-air missiles for Saudi Arabia 's fighter jets, the latest proposed arms deal for the region ahead of President Donald Trump 's planned trip to the region later this month. The sale, announced early Saturday, likely will be one of several heralded by Trump on his visit to the kingdom. Saudi Arabia has already said it wants to invest $600 billion in the United States over the next four years, likely as a way to woo Trump to again pick the kingdom for his first formal trip as president. Trump traveled to Italy briefly for Pope Francis' funeral. Trump's 2017 trip to Saudi Arabia upended a tradition of modern U.S. presidents typically first heading to Canada, Mexico or the United Kingdom for their first trip abroad. It also underscored his administration's close ties to the rulers of the oil-rich Gulf states as his eponymous real estate company has pursued deals across the region. The arms sale involves 1,000 AIM-120C-8 advanced medium range air-to-air missiles, guidance sections and other technical support. The missiles will be built by RTX Corp of Tucson, Ariz. The Royal Saudi Air Force has the world's second-largest fleet of F-15 fighter jets after the U.S. 'This proposed sale will support the foreign policy goals and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a partner country that contributes to political stability and economic progress in the Gulf Region,' the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency said in a statement. The proposed sale now goes to the U.S. Congress. Lawmakers typically weigh in on such sales and, in some cases, can block them. Saudi Arabia has faced intense Congressional scrutiny for years, first for launching a war on Yemen's Houthi rebels back in 2015 that saw the kingdom's airstrikes kill civilians. Then a Saudi assassination team killed Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul in 2018. The U.S. intelligence community concluded the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who likely will meet Trump on his visit this month and met with President Joe Biden in his term, ordered the operation against Khashoggi. The kingdom insists the prince was not involved in the killing. Trump maintained close ties to the Gulf states after leaving office. His second administration has already given initial approval for the energy-rich Mideast nation of Qatar to buy eight armed MQ-9B Reaper drones for its military, a purchase estimated to be worth nearly $2 billion.
