As expected, the $6.4 billion arms deal for Taiwan that Washington announced Jan. 29 has caused the temperature of the already chilly U.S-China relationship to plummet. Defensive in nature, the weapons package includes 114 Patriot air-defense missiles, two Osprey mine-sweeping ships, 60 Black Hawk helicopters, fighter jet communications technology, machine guns and ammunition. Notably, the Obama administration rejected selling Taiwan F-16 fighter jets, calling such a move "too provocative" toward Beijing.
China, which considers Taiwan to be a part of its territory, has condemned Washington's decision, calling the deal "rude interference in China's internal affairs" and characterizing it as running counter to bilateral commitments made in November when U.S. President Barack Obama visited China.
Beijing has wasted no time in taking retaliatory action, suspending military and security dialogue with the United States — including high-level talks on nuclear nonproliferation, arms control and strategic security — and threatening to impose sanctions against U.S. companies involved in the weapons deal.