- The US State Department approves a potential US$750 million (A$1014 million) Howitzers sale to Taiwan
- The prime contractor would be London Stock Exchange-listed arms, security and aerospace company, BAE Systems
- Taiwan’s Ministry for National Defence says the sale would enable the country to maintain its “self-defence, regional peace and stability”
- It comes just after India and Germany joined the growing list of countries deploying ships to the South China Sea for naval exercises
The US State Department has approved a potential US$750 million (A$1014 million) sale of artillery systems to Taiwan.
The Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States, or TECRO, is seeking to purchase Self-Propelled Howitzer Systems and associated equipment.
The prime contractor would be London Stock Exchange-listed, British multinational, arms, security and aerospace company, BAE Systems.
In a statement on the determination, the State Department said the proposed sale “serves U.S. national, economic, and security interests” and “will help improve the security of the recipient and assist in maintaining political stability, military balance, economic and progress in the region”.
Taiwan’s Ministry for National Defence responded in a tweet that the Self-Propelled Howitzer Systems would enable the country to maintain its “self-defence, regional peace and stability”.
We welcome @StateDept‘s approval of a US$ 750 million arms sale to #Taiwan. The determination demonstrates the #US government’s commitment to the #TaiwanRelationsAct & #SixAssurances. It also enables the country to maintain robust self-defense, & regional peace & stability. https://t.co/e6yahizu2T
— 國防部 Ministry of National Defense, R.O.C. 🇹🇼 (@MoNDefense) August 4, 2021
It comes just after India deployed four warships on a two-month mission to the South China Sea. Earlier this week, Germany also dispatched a warship to the contested water for the first time in almost two decades.