The Biden administration has approved a $100 million support deal with Taiwan's government to bolster the island's defenses against an increasingly assertive China. It encompasses both the sale of mind the provision of services.
The Pentagon said Monday that the funds would be used to "sustain, maintain, and improve" the self-ruled island's Patriot missile defense system.
According to a statement from the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency, it had delivered the required certification notifying Congress of the sale's approval by the State Department, which had been requested by Taiwan's de facto embassy in Washington.
China claims Taiwan as its own and has increased pressure on the island since Tsai Ing-wen was elected president for the first time in 2016. Beijing has not ruled out using force to reclaim the island and has launched repeated air missions into Taiwan's air defense zone.
Upgrades to the Patriot Air Defense System would "aid in enhancing the recipient's security and contributing to the region's political stability, military balance, economic development, and progress," the DSCA stated in a statement.
The proposed sale advances the United States' national, economic, and security interests by assisting the recipient in its ongoing efforts to modernize its armed forces and maintain a credible defensive capability, according to the agency.
Lockheed Martin and Raytheon Technologies would be the primary contractors, it stated.aiwan's Defense Ministry stated that the decision to acquire newer Patriot missiles was made during a 2019 meeting with U.S. officials from President Donald Trump's administration.
The ministry disclosed that the agreement would "go into effect" within one month. Taiwan's defense ministry also expressed gratitude to the U.S. on social media for approving the agreement.
The democratically governed island has complained about repeated Chinese air force missions into its air defense zone, which Washington believes is part of Beijing's effort to coerce Taipei into accepting its sovereignty.
While the U.S., like the majority of countries, does not have formal relations with Taiwan, Washington is the island's largest supporter and is required by law to provide it with means of self-defense.
The U.S. has been pressuring Taiwan to modernize its military in order to become a "porcupine," difficult to attack by China, and such arms sales always enrage China.
China's representative to the United States warned last month that if Washington encourages Taiwan independence, the two superpowers could end up in a military conflict.
