China This Week | Taiwan in focus, with row over Japan PM’s comments and sale of US weapons

Two events this week underlined the significance of Taiwan for the Chinese government.

First was the United States government approving the sale of fighter jets and other aircraft parts to Taiwan for $330 million. While US-Taiwan defence ties are not new, the fact that this was the first such sale under the current Trump administration matters.

Second were comments from the newly appointed Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. An opposition leader questioned when Japan would consider events around Taiwan as a threat to itself. Notably, China has had its military aircraft fly by the island multiple times and organised large-scale military exercises in recent years to assert its territorial claims. It has also not ruled out taking control of the island by force.

She responded, “If t