CHINA’S Defence Ministry accused the United States today of turning Taiwan into a powder keg with its latest sales of military equipment to the breakaway province.

The US State Department approved the sale of 30mm ammunition and related equipment, along with spare parts for Taiwan’s vehicles, small arms, combat weapon systems and logistical support items worth a total of $440.2 million (£346m). 

Defence Ministry spokesperson Colonel Tan Kefei responded that “the US ignores China’s core concerns, crudely interferes in China’s internal affairs, and deliberately escalates tensions across the Taiwan Strait.”

China claims Taiwan as its own territory and Colonel Tan said “stern representations” had been lodged with the US.

“This is tantamount to accelerating the transformation of Taiwan into a ‘powder keg’ and pushing the Taiwanese people into the abyss of disaster,” he said in a statement carried on the ministry’s website.

Using force to seek independence is wishful thinking and is doomed to failure, he said, adding that the People’s Liberation Army was always ready and would maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.

The US maintains a “One China” policy under which it supposedly does not recognise Taiwan’s formal independence and has no formal diplomatic relations with the island. 

Nonetheless, US law requires a credible defence for Taiwan and for the US to treat all threats to the island as matters of “grave concern.”

Going beyond this the Biden administration has continued to build up its military strength in a provocative arc around China.

According to the Pentagon’s own figures the US has at least 313 bases in east Asia and around 750 worldwide.

The number of US bases may be even higher as the Pentagon does not release the location of all of its facilities.

In contrast China has one base in Djibouti and several small installations in the South China Sea, bringing the country’s total foreign military bases to around eight.

In its announcement of the sale, the State Department said it “serves US national, economic and security interests by supporting the recipient’s continuing efforts to modernise its armed forces and to maintain a credible defensive capability.”

The State Department said: “The proposed sale will help improve the security of the recipient and assist in maintaining political stability, military balance and economic progress in the region.”

They added that the ammunition and associated equipment would maintain the effectiveness of Taiwan’s CM34 Armored Vehicles while “further enhancing interoperability with the United States.”