The U.S. government has approved a potential $ 95 million deal with Taiwan to sell equipment and train pilots to maintain and strengthen the island’s Patriot missile defense system, Pentari said yesterday.
“The proposed sale serves U.S. interests in national security, the economy and international security, supporting the client’s ongoing efforts to ‘modernize its armed forces and maintain a credible defense capability’, to maintain its Patriot and to guarantee its “readiness” for anti-aircraft operations, in order to facilitate “the prevention of regional threats and the strengthening of its defense”.
Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry welcomed the announcement by the US Department of Defense, stressing that the sale would allow the island to protect itself in the face of “continuous military expansion” and “challenges” from China.
Taiwan “will continue to show its determination to defend itself and will continue to deepen its partnership with the United States and other like-minded countries,” said Xavier Chang.
The transaction is expected to be finalized in a month, the Foreign Minister said in Taipei.
A similar sale had already been approved in February, also for about $ 100 million, and involved the supply of equipment and services to Taiwan for air defense and missile defense systems, amid Taipei allegations of repeated airstrikes. fighters.
This is the third arms sale on the island approved by US President Joe Biden since he took office. The first took place in August and concerned the delivery of 40 155 mm M109A6 self-propelled guns.
Taiwan, which has its own government but has always been considered by Beijing an insurgent Chinese province destined for reunification with the mainland, is forcibly living under constant threat if needed.
Beijing has increased its intrusion into Taiwan’s air defense reconnaissance zone in recent months: 969 Chinese fighter jets violated in 2021, more than double the 380 by 2020, according to the French agency.
The Patriot is a surface-to-air missile system that is considered critical to Chinese fighter jets. It is made by Raytheon.
Diplomatically, the United States has recognized the People’s Republic of China since 1979, not Taiwan, but the US Congress has pledged to supply Taiwan with weapons for its defense; Washington has been Taipei’s main patron.
Source: Capital
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