WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration on Tuesday approved a new $360 million arms sale to Taiwan, sending the island hundreds of armed drones, missile equipment and related support materials, the State Department said in a statement that was certain will draw condemnation from China. .
The announcement was not unexpected but comes at a time of high tensions between Washington and Beijing, which considers Taiwan part of its territory and has vowed to consolidate by force if necessary.
The sale includes 291 Altius-600M systems, which are unmanned aerial vehicles or drones with nuclear warheads. It also includes 720 Switchblade drones known as “long-range loitering munitions,” the department said.
It said the sale “serves U.S. national, economic, and security interests by supporting the recipient’s continued efforts to modernize its armed forces and maintain a credible defensive capability.” It will “help improve the recipient’s security and help maintain political stability, military balance and economic progress in the region,” the ministry said.
The statement claimed that the transfer would not affect the military balance in the region. The announcement was not unusual, although the US and China have tried to smooth tense relations in recent months.
