Laura Rosenberger, the White House’s senior director for China and Taiwan, said this is the largest arms sale to Taiwan to date under the Biden administration, and that “they have had direct consultations and conversations with members of Congress and Taiwan about with its defense needs. evolving security conditions”. “This package has been in the works for some time precisely because we expected it would be needed as the PRC increased pressure on Taiwan,” he said, using the acronym for the People’s Republic of China. “It reflects the US government’s assessment of Taiwan’s defense needs and the threat posed by the PRC.” Rosenberger noted that the proposed arms sale package “includes critical asymmetric defense capabilities prioritized by Taiwan, including Harpoon missiles to support Taiwan’s coastal defenses, AIM-9X missiles to support Taiwan’s air defenses, and support for Taiwan C4ISR surveillance radar program’ in central Taiwan’. “As the DPRK continues to increase pressure on Taiwan — including through an increased military air and naval presence around Taiwan — and engages in efforts to change the status quo in the Taiwan Strait, we are providing Taiwan with what it needs to maintain self-defense capabilities,” she said in a statement to CNN. A State Department spokesman said the sales were in line with United States policy on Taiwan, noting the long-standing US history of providing defensive weapons to the island. The “rapid provision” of such weapons, they said, “is essential to Taiwan’s security, and we will continue to work with industry to support this goal.” “Pursuant to the Taiwan Relations Act, the United States provides Taiwan with defense articles and services necessary to enable it to maintain an adequate self-defense capability,” the spokesman said, noting that “these proposed sales are routine cases of to support Taiwan’s continued efforts to modernize its armed forces and maintain a credible defense capability.” “For four decades, US one-China policy has been guided by the Taiwan Relations Act, the three joint communiqués, and the Six Assurances,” they continued. “We urge Beijing to stop military, diplomatic and economic pressure against Taiwan and instead start a meaningful dialogue with Taiwan.” “The United States will continue to support a peaceful resolution of cross-strait issues in accordance with the wishes and best interests of the people in Taiwan,” the spokesman said. Tensions between China and the US flared after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan in early August. Earlier this week, two United States Navy warships entered the Taiwan Strait in what was the first U.S. naval crossing of the waterway since U.S.-China tensions rose following Pelosi’s visit. This story has been updated with additional information on Thursday.
