The Biden administration has approved the sale of $360 million worth of drones, missiles, and other military equipment to Taiwan. The sale comes amid heightened tensions between the U.S. and China, further complicating the already strained relationship.
The approved equipment includes 291 Altius-600M systems, which are unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or drones, equipped with warheads. Additionally, the sale includes 720 Switchblade drones, known as “extended-range loitering munitions,” according to the State Department.
The Biden administration justified the sale, arguing that it “serves U.S. 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 administration also stated that the sale would “help improve the security of the recipient and assist in maintaining political stability, military balance, and economic progress in the region.”
Taiwanese President Lai Ching-Te expressed gratitude for the U.S. support in a Wednesday press conference, vowing to “continue to strengthen Taiwan’s national defense strength.” The sale comes after months of the Biden administration attempting to ease tensions with Beijing.
President Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping met face-to-face in California late last year. Prior to the meeting, the pair had not spoken for a full year. Following the meeting, Biden stated that “real progress” was made in U.S.-China relations.
China has long maintained its stance that Taiwan will be reunited with the mainland, even if it means resorting to force. The island separated from Beijing in 1949 when pro-democracy forces fled to Taiwan after losing a civil war against the Chinese Communist Party.
This latest arms sale is likely to further escalate tensions between the U.S. and China. The move underscores the ongoing strategic competition between the two superpowers, with Taiwan serving as a key point of contention. It remains to be seen how China will respond to the latest development.
