The United States on Wednesday announced an $11.1 billion (€9.45 billion) arms sales package to Taiwan, making it the largest US arms package ever for the island.
The State Department announced the arms sales package during US President Donald Trump’s televised address.
The move is likely to irritate China which claims sovereignty over Taiwan.
The arms deal follows a low-profile visit by Taiwanese Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung to the Washington area last week, which was reported by Taiwanese and Asian media.
The US State Department said the sale “serves US national, economic, and security interests by supporting the recipient’s continued efforts to modernize its armed forces and maintain a credible defensive capability.”
What is included in the arms sales package?
The arms package – which includes medium-range missiles, howitzers and drones – is the second under Trump’s current administration, and comes amid increased military and diplomatic pressure from China against Taiwan.
The proposed arms sale includes eight items. Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said in a statement that these include parts of the HIMARS rocket system, howitzers, Javelin anti-tank missiles, Altius ammunition drones and other equipment.
“The United States continues to assist Taiwan in maintaining adequate self-defense capabilities and building increasingly strong deterrent power and taking advantage of asymmetric warfare advantages, which form the foundation for maintaining regional peace and stability,” it said.
Other sales in the package include military software worth more than $1 billion, Javelin and TOW missiles worth more than $700 million, helicopter spare parts worth $96 million and upgrade kits for Harpoon missiles worth $91 million.
Edited by: Kieran Burke