Washington CNN —The Biden administration has approved two potential arms sales totaling $440 million to Taiwan amid ongoing tensions between the self-governing island and Beijing, the State Department announced Thursday.
“This proposed sale serves US national, economic and security interests by supporting the recipient’s continuing efforts to modernize its armed forces and to maintain a credible defensive capability,” the State Department said.
Washington has long provided arms to the island under the terms of the Taiwan Relations Act, and there is bipartisan support for supplying Taiwan with weapons.
“China’s ever-expanding military and grey zone oppression have posed a severe threat to Taiwan,” the ministry said in a statement.
“The US arm sales this time not only helps to build Taiwan’s capacity in responding to China’s military threat, but also strengthens our defense resilience and satisfies our training needs.”
Persons:
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Washington CNN, State Department, Cultural, Washington, Taiwan Relations, Foreign Ministry, Taiwan’s Defense Ministry
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Taiwan, Beijing, Taipei, United States, China, Taiwan Strait