The defense ministry on Tuesday said the United States has approved a US$100 million package to maintain and improve Taiwan’s missile program. The ministry said it is likely that the deal will be confirmed by the US Congress after a month.
The foreign ministry said it will be the second US arms sale to Taiwan that US President Joe Biden has approved since taking office in January last year.
The US Department of Defense’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said the package includes equipment and services to support participation in the Patriot International Engineering Services Program (IESP) and Field Surveillance Program (FSP) for five years. This includes engineering services support for the Patriot Air Defense System. The agency said the proposed sale will help sustain Taiwan's missile density and ensure readiness for air operations.
Meanwhile, Presidential Office Spokesperson Xavier Chang said that the office has expressed thanks to the US for once again taking concrete action to fulfill its commitment to Taiwan with providing defensive weapons under the Taiwan Relations Act and the Six Assurances. Chang said Taiwan will continue to deepen security partnership with like-minded countries including the US to maintain peace and prosperity in the Taiwan Strait and the Indo-Pacific region.