Biden Administration Approves More Than $1.1B in Arms Sales to Taiwan – More than $1.1 billion in arms sales to Taiwan have been approved by the Biden administration, a decision that is expected to intensify already high tensions between Washington and Beijing.
Up to 60 anti-ship missiles and up to 100 air-to-air missiles are among the proposed sales, which the administration formally notified Congress of on Friday. A spokesperson for the State Department noted that the US has a long history of supplying Taiwan with defensive weapons and said that the sales were in line with US policy toward the island.
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The “swift provision” of such arms, they said, “is essential for Taiwan’s security and we will continue to work with industry to support that goal.” “Consistent with the Taiwan Relations Act, the United States makes available to Taiwan defense articles and services necessary to enable it to maintain a sufficient self-defense capability.”
The spokesperson said; noting that “these proposed sales are routine cases to support Taiwan’s continuing efforts to modernize its armed forces and to maintain a credible defensive capability.”
“For four decades, the U.S. one China policy has been guided by the Taiwan Relations Act, the three Joint Communiques, and the Six Assurances,” they continued. “We urge Beijing to cease its military, diplomatic, and economic pressure against Taiwan and instead engage in meaningful dialogue with Taiwan.”
“The United States will continue to support a peaceful resolution of cross-Strait issues, consistent with the wishes and best interests of the people on Taiwan,” the spokesperson added.
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Following House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan in the early weeks of August, tensions between China and the US grew substantially. Earlier this week, two US Navy warships passed the Taiwan Strait for the first time since US-China tensions increased as a result of Pelosi’s visit.
