In a move likely to worsen tensions with Beijing, the US State Department has approved the sale of US$1.1 billion worth of military equipment to Taiwan, including advanced missiles and support for the island’s surveillance radar capabilities, South China Morning Post reports.
The sale, approved on Friday, includes about US$85.6 million worth of Sidewinder missiles, used for air-to-air and surface-attack strikes, Harpoon anti-ship missiles worth about US$355 million and support for Taiwan’s surveillance radar programme worth around US$665.4 million, according to the department.
United States’ arms sales to Taiwan are authorised by the 43-year-old Taiwan Relations Act, which outlines America’s willingness to defend Taiwan – often to the consternation of Beijing, which sees such transactions as a violation of commitments that the US made to establish formal diplomatic ties with the People’s Republic of China.
“Consistent with the Taiwan Relations Act, the United States makes available to Taiwan defence articles and services necessary to enable it to maintain a sufficient self-defence capability,” a State Department spokesman said.
“The United States’ swift provision of Taiwan defensive weaponry and sustainment … is essential for Taiwan’s security and we will continue to work with industry to support that goal. These proposed sales are routine cases to support Taiwan’s continuing efforts to modernise its armed forces and to maintain a credible defensive capability.”
Supersonic Sidewinder missiles are equipped with an infrared heat-seeking guidance system and allow pilots to aim at targets with their helmet displays. The Harpoon missiles are more resilient against electronic interference than their predecessors.
Confirmation of the arms sale comes amid what some analysts are calling the fourth Taiwan Strait crisis, sparked by a visit to Taipei last month by Nancy Pelosi, speaker of the US House of Representatives, and the unprecedented live-fire drills that the mainland Chinese military conducted around the self-ruled island in response.
