The U.S. government is planning to sell up to seven major weapons systems to Taiwan, including landmines, cruise missiles, and drones, as the Trump administration continues to step up its efforts to pressure China, Reuters reported on September 16, citing multiple sources.
Several congressional sources with knowledge of the deal said that the Lockheed Martin, Boeing, and General Atomics arms sales are going through the export process and are expected to inform Congress within weeks. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is expected to brief Trump on these programs this week.
In the past, U.S. arms sales to Taiwan have usually been scattered and carefully planned to minimize tensions with the Chinese government, according to the report. But this time, the U.S. is seeking to sell seven weapons to Taiwan at once, which would be a rare break from years of practice. At the same time, Taiwan’s interest in U.S. arms purchases has intensified since President Tsai Ing-wen’s re-election in January and her prioritization of strengthening Taiwan’s defense forces.
China’s military’s escalating posture and threats of force against Taiwan, and the U.S. arms sales to Taiwan come at a time when U.S.-China relations are at a low ebb due to epidemics, trade, the South China Sea, Hong Kong, and human rights issues.
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