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Taipei – In a move that may escalate tensions with China, the administration of US President Joe Biden has approved sending military equipment to Taiwan. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress of the potential foreign military sale worth around $108 million.
The equipment will be delivered to Taiwan under the US Foreign Military Financing (FMF) program.
Taiwan will receive 60 anti-ship missiles and 100 aerial drones if lawmakers do not block the sale. The missiles, known as Harpoon coastal defense systems, have a range of around 78 miles and will boost Taiwan’s ability to deter seaborne invasion threats.
However the drones will provide Taiwanese forces with intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities. This latest arms package follows other sales of sophisticated US weaponry in recent years, including missiles for F-16 jet fighters.
The FMF program authorizes the Executive Branch to finance military equipment for US allies and supports interoperability with American forces.
However, China views any arms sales to Taiwan as destabilizing. A statement from the Chinese embassy argued the sale “severely jeopardizes China’s sovereignty and security interests.” It said China will respond with “strong countermeasures” and that no one should underestimate its resolve to defend territorial integrity.
The move is likely to exacerbate tensions that have grown between Washington and Beijing over Taiwan, which China views as a breakaway province to be reunified.
It remains to be seen if Congress will approve the latest military consignment.
Check also;
- Tension As Chinese Warships, Aircraft, Spotted Around Taiwan As Tsai Ing Meets US speaker
- US And Taiwan Announce Formalized Bilateral Trade Talks
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