The U.S. State Department on Wednesday approved the $180 million sale of anti-tank systems to Taiwan, the latest arms deal struck between the autonomous island and its key ally.
According to a Pentagon press release, Taiwan will receive anti-tank systems, trucks, ammunition or even logistical support elements from Volcano.
This sale “serves the national, economic and security interests of the United States by supporting the recipient’s ongoing efforts to modernize its armed forces and maintain a coherent defense capability,” the statement explained.
This sale of anti-tank systems will “not change the basic military balance of (the) region,” it says.
Beijing sees Taiwan as part of its territory to one day be reclaimed and has become more threatening to the island under the presidency of Xi Jinping.
This year, China has reacted angrily to visits to Taiwan by politicians, including Americans, who staged major military drills to protest the visit of US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in August, raising tensions at one for several years escalated to a level no longer experienced.
US President Joe Biden last week signed a defense spending bill that would provide $10 billion in military aid to Taiwan.
This text allows for up to $2 billion in aid to be given to Taiwan annually from 2023 to 2027.
Earlier, in response to the US House of Representatives adopting the text, Beijing said it was “strongly opposed to the United States using the National Defense Authorization Act to pass negative provisions relating to China.
Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said Monday that China deployed 71 warplanes to conduct military exercises around Taiwan over the past weekend, in one of the largest daily incursions into Taiwan’s controlled airspace.
Beijing’s military described the maneuvers as a “strike exercise” conducted in response to unspecified “provocations” and “collusion” between the United States and the self-governing island.