US arms sales to Taiwan, China’s diplomatic response, and the promotion of the FH-97A drone. Beijing strengthens its strategic message.
Summary
On December 19, China officially condemned a new sale of US arms to Taiwan, through the voice of Guo Jiakun, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Beijing sees this as a direct violation of the One China principle and a factor of regional instability. At the same time, the Chinese authorities and defense industry are promoting military capabilities presented as deterrents, starting with the FH-97A combat drone, designed to operate as a loyal wingman to the J-20 stealth fighter. This dual diplomatic and military message is aimed at both Washington and Taipei. On the one hand, China is seeking to politically delegitimize US arms deliveries. On the other, it is reminding the world that it is investing heavily in systems capable of altering the operational balance in the Taiwan Strait. Behind the verbal confrontation lies a battle for strategic credibility and military tempo.
Beijing’s official reaction to US arms sales
On December 19, Guo Jiakun denounced a new notification of US military equipment sales to Taiwan. The tone is firm, unsurprisingly, but the timing is revealing. Beijing insists that these sales undermine its sovereignty, violate Washington’s commitments, and encourage the Taiwanese authorities to adopt a stance that is considered more risky.
China repeats a central argument: each arms delivery is interpreted as a political signal, rather than a simple industrial contract. In China’s view, this is not about helping Taiwan defend itself, but about maintaining strategic pressure on Beijing by turning the island into an armed outpost.
The legal and political framework invoked by China
Beijing systematically relies on the principle of one China, which is diplomatically recognized by most countries, including the United States. The nuance lies in American practice. Washington recognizes Beijing as the sole Chinese government, but continues to arm Taiwan in accordance with its own legislation.
For China, this ambiguity has become untenable. It believes that arms sales cross a red line, especially when they involve high-value military systems capable of influencing a high-intensity confrontation in the strait.
Military equipment delivered to Taiwan and its real scope
US sales to Taiwan rarely involve heavy offensive platforms. Most of them concern so-called defensive capabilities, but their operational impact is real.
Air defense and missile defense systems
Taiwan has strengthened its air defense capabilities in recent years. Deliveries include surface-to-air missiles, modernized radars, and command equipment. These systems are designed to complicate any Chinese air campaign by increasing the cost of a first strike.
Taiwan’s defense budget now exceeds $19 billion per year (approximately €17.5 billion), with a growing share devoted to air defense and base resilience.
Air and naval capabilities
Taiwan operates a fleet of modernized aircraft, including F-16 fighters upgraded to an advanced standard. These aircraft do not provide air superiority over mainland China, but they improve local response and deterrence capabilities.
On the naval front, deliveries mainly concern anti-ship missiles and sensors designed to threaten amphibious forces. The logic is clear: to make any crossing operation longer, riskier, and more costly.
The financial amounts and their significance
The latest US notifications mention amounts ranging from several hundred million to over a billion dollars per tranche. In terms of US budgets, these figures are modest. For Beijing, they are symbolic. They reflect political continuity, regardless of changes in Washington.
The immediate geopolitical impact of arms sales
Each sale triggers a now well-established cycle. Chinese diplomatic condemnation, formal protests, sometimes targeted sanctions against US companies, followed by military demonstrations in the Taiwan Strait.
This mechanism maintains constant tension. It increases the risk of incidents, particularly during air and naval patrols. For China, the aim is also to accustom the region to a high level of military presence, in order to normalize a posture of constant pressure.
The FH-97A: a technological showcase and strategic message
Alongside diplomatic protests, China is promoting its own programs. The FH-97A is part of this strategy. Presented as an advanced combat drone, it is designed to operate alongside the Chengdu J-20 stealth fighter.
The concept of a loyal wingman
The FH-97A belongs to the category of escort drones, capable of extending the capabilities of a piloted fighter. It can carry out reconnaissance, jamming, target designation, and even attack missions.
This concept aims to multiply sensors and effectors without directly exposing pilots. For China, it is a way to increase deployable air mass while controlling the political risks associated with human losses.
Known characteristics and uncertainties
Public information on the FH-97A remains limited. The visuals show a stealth drone with an architecture designed to reduce its radar signature. Its exact range, payload, and level of autonomy have not been officially detailed.
This lack of clarity is no accident. It contributes to deterrence. Beijing does not need to prove that the system is fully operational. It suffices to suggest that it is progressing rapidly.
The J-20 and the transformation of Chinese air doctrine
The J-20 is at the heart of this communication. As China’s first mass-produced stealth fighter, it symbolizes the upgrade of the People’s Liberation Army Air Force.
Combined with drones such as the FH-97A, it embodies a more modern doctrine focused on coordination, networked warfare, and saturation of enemy defenses. In a scenario involving Taiwan, this combination aims to overwhelm air defense systems with the number and complexity of threats.
The message to Washington and Taipei
By denouncing arms sales while showcasing its drones, China is sending a twofold message. To Washington, it is reminding the US that every delivery will be met with a response, and that the military balance is shifting in its favor in the medium term. To Taipei, it is suggesting that US weapons will not be enough to reverse a structurally unfavorable balance of power.
China is also seeking to influence regional public opinion. It presents itself as a player forced to react, not as a troublemaker. This narrative is central to its diplomatic strategy.
The risks of escalation and calculations on both sides
The increase in arms sales and military demonstrations automatically increases the risk of error. A poorly managed air or naval incident could quickly escalate. However, none of the players seems willing to upset the current balance.
For the United States, arming Taiwan buys time and strengthens deterrence without direct involvement. For China, protesting and modernizing its forces allows it to maintain pressure without triggering an open conflict.
A confrontation that is also playing out over the long term
The heart of the Taiwan issue is temporal. Beijing is banking on a gradual increase in its capabilities, of which combat drones are a key element. Washington is banking on strengthening Taiwan’s defenses to postpone any military deadline.
In between, every arms sale and every new system presented serves as a milestone. They do not immediately change the situation, but they slowly shift the lines.
China’s condemnation on December 19 is therefore neither a simple diplomatic ritual nor a break with tradition. It is part of a coherent strategy, in which political rhetoric, the arming of Taiwan, and the staging of new capabilities such as the FH-97A form a whole. The Taiwan Strait remains an area of constant tension, where technology and communication carry as much weight as the forces actually deployed.
Sources
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, official statements from December
- U.S. Department of Defense, notifications of arms sales to Taiwan
- Taiwan Ministry of National Defense, budget and modernization reports
- China Aerospace Studies Institute, analyses of Chinese combat drones
- International Institute for Strategic Studies, Military Balance and Asia-Pacific files
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