The Presidential Office has thanked the Trump administration for sending its 10th arms package for Taiwan so far to the US Congress for approval. The US government notified Congress of the new arms package on Tuesday. It is the third arms package in two weeks that the US State Department has sent to Congress for approval.
The new US$600 billion package includes four MQ-9B remotely piloted aircraft and related equipment. This is the first arms sale of sophisticated drones since the US relaxed export rules for military drones.
Presidential Office Spokesman Xavier Chang says the drones will strengthen Taiwan’s surveillance, asymmetrical warfare, and defense capabilities. He also says the package shows US recognition of the need to strengthen Taiwan’s defense under the Taiwan Relations Act. Chang says that Taiwan will continue to strengthen its relationship with the US and other countries that share its values to work towards regional stability.
The foreign ministry also welcomed the package, saying that the sale will reinforce Taiwan’s ability to maintain security across the Taiwan Strait.
The defense ministry says the drone sale should take effect in a month.
On October 21, Washington announced an arms package for Taiwan of three weapon systems worth a total of US$1.81 billion. The systems include standoff land attack missiles, external sensor pods for F-16 jets, and High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems rocket launchers.
Then, on October 26, the US announced a package for Taiwan of up to 100 Harpoon Coastal Defense Systems for US$2.37 billion.