US approves Taiwan drone purchase as arms sales escalate
04 November, 2020
The Trump administration has notified Congress that it has approved the sale of US$600 million in armed drones to Taiwan, the latest in some arms transfers for the island.
The State Department said on Tuesday (Nov 3) it had okayed Taiwan's purchase of four "weapons ready" remotely piloted aircraft and related equipment. The move will probably infuriate China, which regards Taiwan as a renegade province and has reacted angrily to previous weapons sales' announcements to the island.
"This proposed sale serves US national, economic, and security interests by supporting the recipient's continuing efforts to modernise its military and maintain a credible defensive capability," it said.
"The proposed sale can help increase the security of the recipient and help out with maintaining political stability, military balance, economical and progress in your community."
It said the sale would improve Taiwan's defence by bolstering its intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities and could help deter military action against it.
Just last week, the administration approved plans for a US$2.37 billion sale of Harpoon missile systems to Taiwan. That came hours after Beijing had announced sanctions on US defence contractors, including Boeing, the lead contractor on the Harpoon deal, over a previous weapons deal.
China's ruling Communist Party claims Taiwan, which split with the mainland in 1949 during a civil war, as part of its territory and has threatened to invade. Washington promised in the 1980s to lessen and finally end weapons sales to Taiwan but insists its dispute with Beijing should be settled peacefully.
Chinese-US relations have plunged with their lowest level in decades amid disputes about security, technology, the coronavirus pandemic and human rights.
Taiwan is definitely an irritant in relations. Washington does not have any formal relations with the island's democratically-elected government but is its main ally. US law requires the federal government to ensure Taiwan can defend itself. Weapons sales to the island have increased in quantity and quality.
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