WASHINGTON: The US State Department on Wednesday approved the sale of $180 million worth of vehicle-launched anti-tank systems to Taiwan, the Pentagon said, the latest arms deal between the self-governing island and its main ally.
Taiwan would receive Volcano anti-tank munitions delivery systems, cargo trucks, munitions, logistics support packages and a myriad of other related services as part of the deal, according to a Pentagon statement.
“This sale proposal serves the national, economic, and security interests of the United States by supporting the recipient’s continued efforts to modernize its armed forces and maintain a credible defensive capability,” the statement said.
Beijing claims to democratically run Taiwan as part of its territory, to be taken a day, and has become more aggressive towards the island under President Xi Jinping.
He has responded with growing anger to visits by US and foreign politicians this year and has held huge military exercises to protest US House Speaker Nancy. Pelosi’s trip to Taiwan in August, sending tensions to the highest level in years.
US President Joe Biden signed into law a defense spending bill last week that would provide up to $10 billion in military aid to Taiwan.
The bill authorizes up to $2 billion a year in aid to Taiwan from 2023 to 2027.
Beijing said in response to the bill’s earlier passage through the US House of Representatives that it was “strongly opposed to the United States using the National Defense Authorization Act to transmit negative content. related to China”.
Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said Monday that China has deployed 71 fighter jets to conduct weekend military exercises around Taiwan, including dozens of fighter jets.
The aircraft had made one of the largest daily incursions into Taiwan-controlled airspace to date.
the chinese army described the drills as a “strike drill,” conducted in response to unspecified “provocations” and “collusion” between the United States and the self-governing island.
The US statement on the latest arms sale said Taiwan’s purchase of the new anti-tank systems “would not change the basic military balance in the region.”
“The proposed sale will enhance the recipient’s ability to deal with current and future threats by providing a credible force capable of deterring adversaries and participating in regional operations,” the statement said.
Taiwan would receive Volcano anti-tank munitions delivery systems, cargo trucks, munitions, logistics support packages and a myriad of other related services as part of the deal, according to a Pentagon statement.
“This sale proposal serves the national, economic, and security interests of the United States by supporting the recipient’s continued efforts to modernize its armed forces and maintain a credible defensive capability,” the statement said.
Beijing claims to democratically run Taiwan as part of its territory, to be taken a day, and has become more aggressive towards the island under President Xi Jinping.
He has responded with growing anger to visits by US and foreign politicians this year and has held huge military exercises to protest US House Speaker Nancy. Pelosi’s trip to Taiwan in August, sending tensions to the highest level in years.
US President Joe Biden signed into law a defense spending bill last week that would provide up to $10 billion in military aid to Taiwan.
The bill authorizes up to $2 billion a year in aid to Taiwan from 2023 to 2027.
Beijing said in response to the bill’s earlier passage through the US House of Representatives that it was “strongly opposed to the United States using the National Defense Authorization Act to transmit negative content. related to China”.
Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said Monday that China has deployed 71 fighter jets to conduct weekend military exercises around Taiwan, including dozens of fighter jets.
The aircraft had made one of the largest daily incursions into Taiwan-controlled airspace to date.
the chinese army described the drills as a “strike drill,” conducted in response to unspecified “provocations” and “collusion” between the United States and the self-governing island.
The US statement on the latest arms sale said Taiwan’s purchase of the new anti-tank systems “would not change the basic military balance in the region.”
“The proposed sale will enhance the recipient’s ability to deal with current and future threats by providing a credible force capable of deterring adversaries and participating in regional operations,” the statement said.
