30-11-2024 (WASHINGTON) The US State Department has given the green light to a significant military equipment sale to Taiwan, valued at approximately US$385 million, amid escalating regional tensions and on the eve of a controversial Pacific tour by Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te.
The Pentagon announced Friday that the package includes $320 million worth of spare parts and support services for F-16 fighter jets and Active Electronically Scanned Array Radars, alongside a separate $65 million deal for improved mobile subscriber equipment, with General Dynamics serving as the primary contractor.
This latest approval comes at a particularly sensitive time, as President Lai prepares to embark on a diplomatic journey through the Pacific, including stopovers in the US territories of Hawaii and Guam. Security analysts suggest that Beijing, which considers Taiwan part of its territory, might respond with military exercises similar to two previous demonstrations of force conducted earlier this year.
Taiwan’s defence ministry welcomed the announcement, stating that the equipment will enhance F-16 fleet readiness and strengthen the island’s defensive capabilities. “This agreement reinforces the ongoing security partnership between Taiwan and the United States,” a ministry spokesperson said.
The sale follows a larger $2 billion arms package approved last month, which notably included advanced air defence missile systems previously deployed in Ukraine. This represents Washington’s commitment to its legal obligation under the Taiwan Relations Act to provide defensive capabilities to the self-governing island, despite lacking formal diplomatic relations.
Chinese officials have responded by urging the United States to exercise “utmost caution” in its dealings with Taiwan. However, US State Department representatives maintained that President Lai’s upcoming transit through US territories constitutes a routine, unofficial visit that should not be used as grounds for provocative actions.
President Lai’s itinerary includes visits to the Marshall Islands, Tuvalu, and Palau – three of the twelve nations maintaining formal diplomatic relations with Taipei. The strategic significance of his stopovers in Hawaii and Guam, both hosting major US military installations, has not gone unnoticed by regional observers.
