The president of Taiwan stated this Thursday that he hopes that the United States will approve “as soon as possible” an arms sale for 14 billion dollars, and reaffirmed his rejection of unification with China.

“We hope that the arms purchases can be approved as soon as possible,” President Lai Ching-te assured reporters in Taipei.

The democratically governed island relies on American support to deter a possible Chinese attack, and Washington has pressured Taipei to increase its defense spending.

But an arms sale complicates US relations with Beijing, which considers Taiwan part of its territory and does not rule out taking it even by force.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in May that this $14 billion arms sale is under review.

Even so, Lai said he has “a lot of hope” that the sale will be approved.

“Taiwan's efforts to defend its national security, maintain its democratic and free way of life, and reject the unification and rule of the Chinese Communist Party should not be considered a provocation against China,” Lai declared.

The United States formally recognizes China, but its law requires it to provide Taiwan with the necessary means for its defense.