U.S. State Department Approves Sale of F-16 Munitions to Taiwan

Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen oversees the commission of the first squadron of F-16V fighters in Chiayi Air Force Base, Taiwan, Nov. 18, 2021. (Taiwan Presidential Office via Reuters Photo)


The U.S. State Department has approved a potential sale of F-16 munitions to Taiwan. The deal is worth $619 million. A State Department spokesman said the deal is, “consistent with the Taiwan Relations Act and our longstanding One-China policy. The United States makes available to Taiwan defense articles and services necessary to enable it to maintain a sufficient self-defense capability.” The spokesman added, “The United States’ support to Taiwan and steps Taiwan takes to enhance its self-defense capabilities contribute to the maintenance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and within the region.” The Taiwanese Defense Ministry said, “the Air Force has full combat capabilities in the two types of missiles that the United States agreed to sell this time. Besides allowing us to effectively defend our airspace against provocations from the communist military, it also helps us stock weapons and boost our defensive resilience. The provision of defensive weapons to our country is the basis for preserving regional peace, and the Ministry of National Defense expresses our sincere gratitude to the United States.”

The contractors involved in the deal are Raytheon and Lockheed Martin. The arms included in the deal are 100 AGM-88B High-Speed Anti-Radiation Missiles, 23 HARM training missiles, 200 AIM-120C-8 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles, 4 AIM-120C-8 AMRAAM Guidance Sections, and 26 LAU-129 multi-purpose launchers.

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