The United States’ State Department has approved a potential $95 million sale to Taiwan of equipment, training, and other services to help the island’s security, marking the third arms deal approved by President Joe Biden since taking office a year ago.
The Pentagon said in a statement to Congress that the approval covers the training, planning, fielding, deployment, operation, maintenance, and sustainment of the Patriot Air Defense System and associated equipment.
“This proposed sale serves US national, economic, and security interests by supporting the recipient’s continuing efforts to modernize its armed forces and to maintain a credible defensive capability,” the Pentagon said.
“The proposed sale will help to sustain the recipient’s missile density and ensure readiness for air operations. The recipient will use this capability as a deterrent to regional threats and to strengthen homeland defense,” the statement added.
China claims Taiwan, a self-governing democracy, as a part of its country and has increased pressure on the island since Tsai Ing-wen was elected president in 2016.
“Taiwan will continue to demonstrate its determination to defend itself, and continue to deepen cooperative partnerships with the United States and other like-minded countries,” a spokesperson of Taiwan’s Presidential office Xavier Chang said in a statement.
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