Ahead of a sensitive trip by Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te to the Pacific, the Pentagon announced that the US State Department had approved the potential sale of spare parts for F-16 jets and radars to Taiwan for $385 million. China’s Foreign Ministry warned Washington to exercise maximum caution in relations with Taipei.

Afghan Voice Agency (AVA): Despite the lack of formal diplomatic relations between Washington and Taipei, the US claims it is legally obligated to provide the self-ruled island claimed by China with the means to “defend itself,” a move that has repeatedly angered Beijing.

Taiwan rejects China’s claims of sovereignty. China has stepped up military pressure on Taiwan, including by holding two rounds of war games this year, and security sources told Reuters that Beijing may hold more drills to coincide with Lai Ching-te’s tour of the Pacific, which includes stops in Hawaii and Guam, a U.S. territory.

“Taiwan and the United States will continue to strengthen their security partnership and work together to maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and the Indo-Pacific region,” the ministry said in a statement.

China’s foreign ministry warned Washington to exercise maximum caution in relations with Taipei, following Taiwanese President William Lai’s planned trip to three Pacific nations via U.S. overseas territories.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Mao Ning said the separatist actions were incompatible with peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, noting that the Chinese and U.S. presidents had spoken at the Asia-Pacific summit in Peru this month.

Referring to the ruling party in Taiwan, he said: "If the United States wants to maintain peace in the Taiwan Strait, it must consider the independence-seeking nature of Lai Ching-te and the officials of the Democratic Progressive Party."