The U.S. government’s decision to approve two arms sales with a total value of US$300 million is sincerely welcomed by the government and people of Taiwan, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said June 6.
Initiated at the behest of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the U.S., the deals include F-16 standard and non-standard spare parts and equipment. The sales will strengthen Taiwan’s self-defense and deterrence capability, the ministry added.
According to the MOFA, this is the 14th arms sales announced by U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration since 2021 and reflects a policy of normalizing arms sales to Taiwan. The decision underscores Washington’s long-term, rock-solid commitment to Taiwan’s security under the Taiwan Relations Act and Six Assurances, as well as the importance Washington attaches to a peaceful and stable regional status quo, it added.
The U.S. and other like-minded partners have repeatedly called on China to cease both its threatening naval presence in Taiwan’s surrounding waters and its increased use of gray-zone tactics, the ministry said. Facing such aggression, Taiwan remains resolute in its determination to defend its homeland’s free and democratic way of life by enhancing asymmetrical combat capability, the MOFA added.
The government will continue to deepen its security partnership with the U.S. to promote rules-based international order and ensure peace, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific, the ministry added.
The Presidential Office and Ministry of National Defense also issued a statement welcoming the development, with the PO thanking Washington for supporting cross-strait peace and stability, and the MND anticipating that the sales will provide ample maintenance components for the air force. (SFC-E)
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