Taiwan: Beijing is irritated by a possible sale of US arms for $1.1 billion

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. State Department on Friday approved a possible $1.1 billion arms sale to Taiwan, angering Beijing.

China conducted its biggest military maneuvers around Taiwan last month following a visit by US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who said she showed US support for the democratic island.

Spokesman for the Chinese Embassy in Washington, Liu Pengyu, said in a statement that such an arms sale “greatly jeopardizes relations between the two countries, as well as peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait”.

“China will take all necessary and legitimate measures in view of the development of the situation,” he said.

The project must be examined by the American Congress, but Democratic and Republican advisers estimated that it should not meet opposition.

(Report Patricia Zengerle and Michael Martina, with contributions from Rami Ayyub, Steve Holland and Ben Blanchard, written by Caitlin Webber; French version Camille Raynaud)