US approves $2 billion in arms sales to Taiwan including missiles
The United States has approved more than $2 billion worth of arms sales to Taiwan, including National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS) missiles.
The Pentagon’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency said on Friday that the missile systems worth $1.16 billion and radar systems worth $828 million were approved.
RTX Corp, formerly known as Raytheon, will be the principal contractor for the missile system, the Pentagon added.
The US aerospace and defense conglomerate headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, just across the river from the nearby White House in Washington, DC -- alongside Lockheed Martin Corporation, another major arms manufacturing member in the US military-industrial complex -- has been sanctioned by China over arms sales to Taipei.
“This proposed sale serves US 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 Pentagon said in the statement.
“The proposed sale will help improve the security of the recipient and assist in maintaining political stability, military balance, and economic progress in the region.”
The missile system sale is for three NASAMS medium-range air defense solutions that include the advanced AMRAAM Extended Range surface-to-air missiles, it added.
China has regularly protested the US sales of weaponry to Taipei, slamming Washington for backing secessionist advocates in Taiwan. Beijing sees ties with Taipei as meddling in Chinese domestic affairs.
The Chinese government expresses clear opposition to any official diplomatic relations between the United States and Chinese Taipei, urging Washington to stop sending wrong signals to separatist forces in the self-ruled island. China says Taiwan is an inalienable part of it.
Taiwan's purchase of weapons from the United States, the island’s largest arms supplier, has infuriated Beijing.
Yemen’s Sa’ada, ‘Amran targeted in fresh US, UK aerial assaults
US, UK warplanes pound Yemeni capital Sana’a, other regions
US, UK strike Yemen’s Hudaydah in support of Israel
Israeli strikes kill 28 people in Lebanon
Hezbollah strikes major Israeli air force base for first time
Iran authorizes imports and sale of unleaded gasoline at free prices
Who said what about genocide in Gaza and Lebanon at OIC-Arab League summit?
More journalists killed by Israel in Gaza than in any conflict in recent decades: Report
Israeli attacks on Syria serious threat to regional stability: Iranian diplomat
Yemen carries out pre-emptive strike against US aircraft carrier
VIDEO | Trump: End wars or fuel them?
PressTV NEWSLETTER
now
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
