The Pentagon’s Defence Security Cooperation Agency announced on Wednesday that the US State Department has approved the sale of F-16 fighter jet spare and maintenance components to Taiwan for an estimated $80 million.
According to a statement from the Pentagon’s Defence Security Cooperation Agency, the sale would help improve the security of the recipient and assist in maintaining political stability, military balance, and economic progress in the region.
Taiwan’s defence ministry thanked the US and stated that the sale would increase the air force’s combat and defence requirements. The ministry stated that the deal would be finalised in July.
In a statement, Taiwan’s defence ministry said, “With normalized Gray zone harassments, the Chinese Communist Party attempted to squeeze our naval and air training space and response time, as well as limiting our rights of self-defense”.
China has frequently asked that the United States, Taiwan’s main weaponry supplier, discontinue sales to the island, which Beijing claims as its own despite Taipei’s vehement objections.
Taiwan Defence Minister Wellington Koo told media in parliament on Thursday that Taiwan must improve its self-defense capabilities to be a part of effective deterrence in the US Indo-Pacific strategy.
“But for Taiwan-U.S. military cooperation, there are many things we can only do, not tell”, the minister added.
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