The U.S. plan to deliver four drones to Taiwan has angered China. General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper's sea variant is scheduled to enter Taiwan inventory, while China has announced its opposition to the sale of drones to Taiwan.  The MQ-9 Reaper, which patrols the air and provides air support when urgent, has the appropriate range for China to monitor.

Under Trump, the U.S. had gone to facilitate the export regime of drones. The deal with Taiwan could be the first sales agreement after the new U.S. decision.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin reiterated his country's opposition to military sales for Taiwan, saying the United States should not carry out the sale of drones so that Washington does not harm bilateral relations.