As cross-strait tensions increase, there are reports that the White House has already approved the sale of three packages of advanced weaponry to Taiwan. The deals have been sent to the US Congress.
One harpoon missile can sink a ship. A Reuters report says the US State Department has sent three arms packages for Taiwan to Congress for approval.These include Harpoon anti-ship missiles and MQ-9 drones. Military expert Cheng Chi-wen says the missiles can help Taiwan defend and dominate the Taiwan Strait. MQ-9 drones can be used in conjunction with P-3 Orion aircraft to monitor the surrounding seas for a longer period of time.
The Reuters report said the White House has already approved the three arms packages. They include external sensor pods for F-16 jets, and a truck-based rocket launcher called HIMARS that could attack China’s coast, and long-range Harpoon anti-ship missiles called SLAM-ER. This package differs from past packages in that it includes offensive weapons, meaning that Taiwan could use them to attack.
Cheng says, "As for the US’s Indo-Pacific strategy, as long as the offensive weapons are limited, they’re in line with US interests. There is already an imbalance of military power in the Taiwan Strait, so passive defense weapons cannot meet Taiwan’s defense needs."
Reports cite a total of seven US arms packages in store for Taiwan. The defense ministry says it will report on packages once they’ve been approved.