US plans US$440 million in arms sale and military vehicle support for Taiwan
- Approval follows purchase request from Taiwan, agency managing US foreign arms sales says in announcing State Department move
- Proposed sale will ‘help build our response to the military threat from the Communist Party of China’, Taiwan’s defence ministry says
The potential sales of spare and repair parts worth US$108 million, and 30mm ammunition plus support for their use worth US$332.2 million, follow a request from Taiwan to buy the items, the US Defence Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said in separate statements.
“The proposed sale will help improve the security of the recipient and assist in maintaining political stability, military balance and economic progress in the region,” according to the agency, which manages foreign arms sales in the US defence department.
The US Congress needs to approve the proposed sales before they are confirmed.
Taiwan’s defence ministry on Friday said it hoped the sales could be finalised within a month.
“This announcement from the US about arms sales to Taiwan will not only help build our response to the military threat from the Communist Party of China but also make our defence more resilient and meet the needs of warfare and training missions,” it said in a statement.
03:45
China, US offer competing security visions for Asia-Pacific at security forum