Taming China: Outgoing Trump’s fresh kicks on Taiwan, HK issues
Virendra Pandit
New Delhi: Call it part of his attempts to dig the pitch for his successor or his own efforts to tame the Dragon the last time, the outgoing US President, Donald Trump, approved a major arms sale worth USD 280 million to Taiwan and also slapped new sanctions against 14 Chinese officials over their crackdown on pro-democracy people in Hong Kong.
Trump’s successor, President-elect Joe Biden, will take oath on January 20, 2021.
The US State Department, on Monday, said it had approved a USD 280 million arms sale to Taiwan, which includes advanced military communications equipment, media reported.
The communications equipment would “help improve the security of the recipient and assist in maintaining political stability, military balance, economic and progress in the region” and to “contribute to the recipient’s goal to modernize its military communication capability in support of their mission and operational needs.”
This latest approval is in line with similar steps the Trump Administration has taken in recent months to boost Taiwan’s defenses.
The US State and Treasury departments also said they were acting against the 14 Chinese leaders to freeze any assets they may have in U.S. jurisdictions and bar them and their families from traveling to the United States.
Only last week, the US had restricted visa access for Chinese Communist Party officials as part of the campaign which has also seen penalties imposed on China for its actions in western Xinjiang province, Tibet, Taiwan, and the South China Sea.
“Beijing’s unrelenting assault against Hong Kong’s democratic processes has gutted its Legislative Council, rendering the body a rubber stamp devoid of meaningful opposition,” Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement reiterating condemnations of China’s violations of the agreement with Britain that returned Hong Kong to Chinese rule in 1997.
“These actions demonstrate once again Beijing’s complete disregard for its international commitments under the Sino-British Joint Declaration, a U.N.-registered treaty,” he said.
“Our actions today underscore that the United States will continue to work with our allies and partners to hold Beijing accountable for undermining Hong Kong’s promised autonomy,” Pompeo said. “The United States again urges Beijing to abide by its international commitments and to heed the voices of many countries, which have condemned its actions.”
Trump is likely to make a life for China as difficult as he could in the remaining 42 days of his office.
