US approves sale of F-16 missiles worth $619M to Taiwan

The United States has accredited the sale to Taiwan of $619 million in munitions for F-16 fighter jets, in a transfer more likely to anger Beijing.

The bundle consists of 100 AGM-88B High-Speed Anti-Radiation Missiles (HARM), 200 AIM-120C-8 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles(AMRAAM), and launchers and dummy missiles for coaching, the Pentagon mentioned in an announcement late on Wednesday.

The sale will increase Taiwan’s “capability to provide for the defence of its airspace, regional security, and interoperability with the United States,” it added.

The announcement comes amid elevated tensions between the United States and China over Taiwan, in addition to the downing final month of a balloon over US airspace that Washington says was a Chinese surveillance system.

Taiwan has been self-ruled for over seven a long time, however Beijing regards it as a renegade province.

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One China Policy

The US State Department mentioned individually that the sale is according to the Taiwan Relations Act and Washington’s One China Policy, which accepts that there’s just one state referred to as China.

“The United States’ support to Taiwan and steps Taiwan takes to enhance its self-defence capabilities contribute to the maintenance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and within the region,” the State Department mentioned.

Taiwan mentioned it welcomes the primary US arms gross sales of the yr and the ninth to this point throughout President Joe Biden’s tenure.

“In the face of China’s continued military expansion and provocative behaviour, Taiwan will continue to actively improve its self-defence capabilities,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Jeff Liu mentioned.

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Source: TRTWorld and businesses