President Joe Biden’s government on Tuesday approved a new arms sale to Taiwan for $360 million, which will send hundreds of armed drones, missile equipment and related support material to the island, the State Department reported in a statement that will surely draw condemnation from China.
The announcement was not unexpected, but comes at a time of great tension between Washington and Beijing, which considers Taiwan part of its territory and has promised to annex it by force if necessary.
The sale includes 291 Altius-600M systems, which are unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones, with warheads. It also includes 720 Switchblade drones known as “long-range loitering munitions,” the State Department reported.
He indicated that the sale “serves the national, economic and security interests of the United States by supporting the recipient country’s continued efforts to modernize its armed forces and maintain a credible defensive capability.” This “will help improve the security of the recipient country and contribute to maintaining political stability, military balance, and economic progress in the region,” the State Department said.
The statement also states that the transfer would not affect the military balance in the region. The announcement was not unusual, even though the United States and China have attempted to soften their tense relationship in recent months.
