The US State Department on Tuesday approved the potential sale of $428 million in aircraft parts to Taiwan to help its air force.
The Joe Biden administration signed two major new arms sales deals in this case for the sale of aircraft spare parts to support Taiwan’s fleet of F-16 fighter jets, C-130 transport aircraft and other weapons systems. supplied by the USA.
The package includes $330 million in standard spare parts and $98 million in non-standard equipment along with related accessories and logistics.
The sales were announced just weeks after President Joe Biden met with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping for talks in Indonesia, in which China’s increasingly aggressive behavior toward Taiwan was a key issue.
China considers Taiwan a province and has vowed to reunify the island with the mainland by force if necessary.
It has strongly condemned previous US arms sales to Taiwan and is expected to react similarly to Tuesday’s announcement.
Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said on Wednesday that the sale was expected to “take effect” within a month.
The United States is Taiwan’s most important international arms supplier, despite the lack of formal diplomatic ties.
Taiwan’s presidential office, noting that this was the seventh arms sale approved by the Biden administration, said the latest approval would increase Taiwan’s combat power.
“Taiwan will continue to show its determination and ability to defend itself and resolutely defend its sovereignty and safeguard national security.”