The US has approved $2 billion in arms sales to Taiwan, including its first delivery to the self-ruled island of an advanced surface-to-air missile defense system, in a move sure to anger China. Taiwan’s presidential office on Saturday thanked the US for greenlighting the potential arms sales. Under the island’s new president, Lai Ching-te, Taiwan has been stepping up defense measures as China increases its military threats against the territory it claims as its own, the AP reports. Beijing last week held war games encircling Taiwan for the second time since Lai took office in May.
The US is Taiwan’s strongest unofficial ally, and its laws bound it to provide Taiwan with the means to defend itself.
US Plans Arms Sales to Taiwan
