U.S. approves $95 million Patriot weapons support for Taiwan

The United States has announced that it approved the sale of up to $95 million worth of training and other equipment in order to support Taiwan’s Patriot missile defense system, which is something Taipei has said would help secure the island from Chinese invasion.

Taiwan’s foreign ministry was receptive to the arms deal – which is the third approved under President Joe Biden – and said it would help protect against Beijing’s “continuing military expansion and provocation.” 

“The proposed sale will help to sustain (Taiwan’s) missile density and ensure readiness for air operations,” said the Pentagon’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency in a statement.

The statement included that Taiwan will utilize the proposed training and equipment as a “deterrent to regional threats and to strengthen homeland defense.” 

“In the face of China’s continuing military expansion and provocation, Taiwan must fully demonstrate its strong determination to defend itself,” the country’s foreign ministry said in a statement. “Our government will continue to strengthen our self-defense and asymmetric combat capabilities.”

The group said the planned deal should take effect in one month. This particular arms purchase comes as Taiwan has been closely eyeing the conflict between Russia and Ukraine as it also lives under the threat of an invasion by a neighbor.

China has consistently regarded Taiwan as its own territory under the One China Policy, and it has vowed to seize the small island one day, using force if necessary.

Beijing has increased its saber-rattling in the recent years, sending 969 Chinese warplanes into Taiwan’s air defense zone in 2021 as reported in a database compiled by AFP. Taiwan has recorded just about 280 warplanes entering the zone this year alone.