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Taiwan’s presidential office on Saturday thanked Washington for
greenlighting the potential arms sales. Under the island's new
president, Lai Ching-te, Taiwan has been stepping up defense
measures as China increased its military threats against the
territory it claims as its own.
Beijing last week held war games encircling Taiwan for the
second time since Lai took office in May.
The U.S. is Taiwan’s strongest unofficial ally and its laws
bound it to provide Taiwan with the means to defend itself.
“Strengthening Taiwan’s self-defense capabilities is the
foundation for maintaining regional stability,” Taiwan's
presidential spokesperson Karen Kuo said.
The potential sales package includes three National Advanced
Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS) and related equipment
valued at up to $1.16 billion, according to the U.S. State
Department’s Bureau of Political-Military Affairs.
It also includes radar systems worth an estimated $828 million.
The Chinese government did not immediately comment on the
potential arms sales.
The NASAMS system has been battle-tested in Ukraine and will
help to strengthen the Taiwanese army’s air defense
capabilities, Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said.
China’s war games last week were aimed at practicing the
“sealing off of key ports and key areas” around Taiwan,
according to Chinese officials. Taiwan counted a record one-day
total of 153 aircraft, 14 navy vessels and 12 Chinese government
ships.
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