The US administration is planning an arms sale worth $1.1 billion for Taiwan, Politico revealed, citing sources.
The administration is planning to send the sale proposal to Congress for approval, the outlet added.
The package includes “60 AGM-84L Harpoon Block II missiles for $355 million, 100 AIM-9X Block II Sidewinder tactical air-to-air missiles for $85.6 million, and $655.4 million for a surveillance radar contract extension.”
The yet-to-be-notified proposal is likely to be approved with a delay due to the “ongoing congressional recess,” Politico wrote.
China’s Saber-Rattling
The development comes as China staged a large-scale military exercise around Taiwan in response to US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to the self-governing territory on August 2.
Beijing has continued sending warships, missiles, and fighter jets into the waters and skies near Taiwan for weeks since the visit as part of an exercise considered to be the largest and most aggressive by China since the mid-1990s.
Taiwan to Raise Defense Budget
In response, Taiwan has beefed up its defense preparedness, proposing to raise next year’s defense budget by 13 percent to $415.1 billion Taiwan New dollars ($13.7 billion).
Additional funding to acquire fighter jets and other air and naval assets will raise Taiwan’s defense budget to 586.3 billion New Taiwan dollars ($19. 3 billion) next year.
