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U.S. announces US$1.1 billion missiles sales, logistics support for Taiwan

ROC Central News Agency

09/03/2022 10:38 AM

Washington, Sept. 2 (CNA) The United States government has approved three proposals to supply Taiwan with a total of US$1.1 billion worth of defense articles that include Harpoon anti-ship missiles and Sidewinder short-range air-to-air missiles, the Pentagon said Friday.

The planned arms sales will enhance the ability of Taiwan's armed forces to "meet current and future threats" by allowing them to employ "highly reliable and effective" systems" to "counter or deter" aggressions, the Pentagon's Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said in separate press statements.

Estimated at US$1.1 billion in total, the defense articles will include 60 AGM-84L-1 Harpoon Block II missiles, four ATM-84L-1 Harpoon Block II exercise missiles, 100 AIM-9X Block II Sidewinder tactical missiles, as well as logistics support for the Surveillance Radar Program (SRP), the DSCA said.

Other items include four AIM-9X Block II tactical Guidance Units, spare and repair parts, and technical assistance from the U.S. government and the suppliers of the defense articles, according to the agency.

The DSCA said it had notified Congress on Friday of the proposed sales, after they were approved by the State Department.

The proposed deals are "routine cases" to support Taiwan's continuing efforts to modernize its armed forces and to maintain a credible defensive capability, a spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State said in a statement later the same day.

The U.S. has provided Taiwan with defense items and services "essential for Taiwan's security" and will continue to work with the industry to achieve that, the spokesperson said, adding that the U.S. government had notified Congress of over US$35 billion worth of arms sales to Taiwan since 2010.

The spokesperson also urged China to "cease its military, diplomatic, and economic pressure against Taiwan" and instead "engage in meaningful dialogue with Taiwan."

In a press statement released Saturday morning in Taipei, Xavier Chang (張惇涵), spokesman for the Presidential Office, thanked the U.S. government for approving arms deals for the fifth time this year.

The planned arms packages were a demonstration of Washington's emphasis of Taiwan's national defense needs and commitment to the island's security, Chang said.

Taiwan seeks no conflicts nor disputes, but the country will demonstrate its firm resolve to defend itself and safeguard national sovereignty, Chang said, adding that the government would continue working with like-minded partners to contribute to the peace and stability of the Taiwan Strait and the Indo-Pacific region.

Meanwhile, Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense said in a separate press statement that the proposed U.S. arms sales would help the Taiwanese Army better tackle increasingly "severe threats" posed by China's "gray zone" pressure campaign in sea and airspace near Taiwan by elevating the effectiveness of the island's long-range missile warning systems.

According to the ministry, the proposed sales are expected to take effect one month after the U.S. Congress has been notified.

(By Stacy Hsu and Teng Pei-ju)

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