The Obama administration today notified Congress of a USD 1.83 billion arms sale package for Taiwan amid firm opposition from China.
"Today, the Administration notified Congress of a USD 1.83 billion defensive arms sale package for Taiwan," said David McKeeby, a spokesperson for the US Department of State's Bureau of Political-Military Affairs.
This notification follows previous notifications by the Obama Administration totalling over USD 12 billion.
The notification is consistent with the Taiwan Relations Act, and its support for Taiwan's ability to maintain a sufficient self-defence capability, he added.
This Foreign Military Sales package supports Taiwan's efforts to develop more innovative and asymmetric defensive capabilities.
McKeeby said the US arms sales to Taiwan are guided by the Taiwan Relations Act and based on an assessment of Taiwan's defence needs.
"Our longstanding policy on arms sales to Taiwan has been consistent across six different US administrations. We believe our consistent policy has contributed to the security of Taiwan, and has also supported the maintenance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait," he said.
Top Republican Senator John McCain, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, strongly support the Administration's notification of a new round of arms sales to Taiwan.
"This decision is consistent with both the legal requirements of the Taiwan Relations Act and our national interest in helping the democratic government in Taipei preserve stability across the Taiwan Strait," he said.
"The United States must continue to support the efforts of Taiwan to integrate innovative and asymmetric measures to increase cross-Strait deterrence, including the future sale of capabilities and high-end training that will help improve Taiwan's air-and sea-denial capabilities," he said.
The US Congress has 30 days to raise any objections to the sale, otherwise it is considered approved
China, which regards Taiwan as a breakaway territory, said yesterday it "firmly opposes sales of weapons, military hardware or technology to Taiwan by any country in any form or under any pretext."
The new sales come at a period of heightened tensions between the US and China over the South China Sea, where Washington has been critical of China reportedly building man-made islands to assert expansive territorial claims.
