State Department greenlights $1.8B weapons sale to Taiwanhttps://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/state-department-greenlights-1-8b-weapons-sale-to-taiwanThe Trump administration has approved a sale of nearly $2 billion in weapons to Taiwan.
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress on Wednesday that the State Department gave the OK for the possible sale of 135 Standoff Land Attack Missile Expanded Response missiles worth more than $1 billion, 11 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems M142 launchers for roughly $436 million, and six MS-110 reconnaissance pods for about $367 million dollars.
"This proposed sale serves U.S. national, economic, and security interests by supporting the recipient’s continuing efforts to modernize its armed forces and to maintain a credible defensive capability," the Defense Security Cooperation Agency wrote. "The proposed sale will help improve the security of the recipient and assist in maintaining political stability, military balance, economic and progress in the region."
A State Department spokesman told the Washington Examiner that "consistent with the Taiwan Relations Act, the United States makes available to Taiwan defense articles and services necessary to enable it to maintain a sufficient self-defense capability."
The mainland regards Taiwan as a rogue province. Were only the 20th Century considered, Japan ruled the island longer than did mainland China.
