US to sell Taiwan $385 million worth of F-16 parts and radars

The US State Department has approved the sale of $385 million worth of F-16 parts and radars to Taiwan. The deal includes fighter jet support and advanced mobile subscriber equipment from General Dynamics.

The US State Department has approved the sale of about $385 million worth of F-16 parts and radars to Taiwan, the Pentagon said a day before Taiwanese President Lai Ching-de begins a major trip to the Pacific. This is reported by the agency Reuters.

Details

The United States is legally obliged to provide Taiwan, which is claimed by China, with the means to defend itself, despite the lack of formal diplomatic relations between Washington and Taipei, which causes constant anger in Beijing.

The Pentagon's Defense and Security Cooperation Agency said the deal included $320 million in spare parts and support for F-16 fighter jets, active phased array radars and related equipment.

The State Department also approved a potential sale to Taiwan of advanced mobile subscriber equipment and support worth about $65 million, the Pentagon said. The prime contractor for the $65 million sale is General Dynamics.

Taiwan's Ministry of Defense said it expects the sale to “take effect” within a month and that the equipment will help maintain the combat capability of the F-16 fleet and “build a robust defense force.”

“Taiwan and the United States will continue to strengthen their security partnership and work together to maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and the Indo-Pacific region,” 

– said in statement.

Addendum

Last month, the United States announced a potential $2 billion arms sale to Taiwan, including the island's first shipment of an advanced air defense system that has been combat-tested in Ukraine.

Lai departs for Hawaii on Saturday, which is officially a stopover in the Marshall Islands, Tuvalu and Palau, three of the 12 countries that do not yet have formal diplomatic relations with Taipei. He will also stop in Guam.

Hawaii and Guam are home to major U.S. military bases.