Taiwan Defends US Arms Deal After China Sanctions Threat

Taiwan President Tsai Ing-we, seated second from left, pose with participants at the U.S. Taiwan Business Summit in New York on July 12, 2019. AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews

TAIPEI, Taiwan—Taiwan on July 13 defended a proposal to purchase $2.2 billion in arms from the United States, following an official Chinese regime announcement that it would sanction any American companies involved in the deal.

U.S. weapons help strengthen Taiwan’s self-defense in the face of a growing military threat from China, the defense ministry said.