The U.S. Defense Department announced on October 26 that the State Department has approved arms sales to the Taiwan region valued at $1.988 billion. This marks the 17th arms sale to Taiwan under President Joe Biden and represents the largest deal during his presidency. According to the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency, the sale aims to enhance Taiwan's air defense capabilities by providing three National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS) and associated weapons systems, along with AN/TPS-77 and AN/TPS-78 radar systems and related equipment.
Since President Biden approved the first arms sale to Taiwan in August 2021, the total value of these sales has surpassed $5.7 billion, with the latest approval bringing the total to nearly $7.7 billion, as reported by the U.S.-Taiwan Business Council.
Critics argue that the timing of this arms sale suggests it is more influenced by internal U.S. politics than a commitment to peace in the Taiwan Strait. It is suggested that President Biden may be seeking to bolster the Democratic Party's foreign affairs stance and support Kamala Harris's presidential campaign amidst challenging foreign policy issues, including support for Israel's military operations in Gaza and responses to Russia's actions in Ukraine.
This latest arms sale is viewed by some as a significant political move that may not only fail to garner additional support for the Democrats but also expose further weaknesses in the administration's foreign policy strategy, potentially jeopardizing peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
