Biden Administration Approved its First Arms Sale to Taiwan

The Biden administration has approved its first arms sale to Taiwan, worth up to NT$21 billion. The deal includes 40 M109 self-propelled howitzers. Taiwan’s Presidential Office expressed gratitude for the deal, saying it will contribute to the security of the Taiwan Strait.

According to the Pentagon, the U.S. state department has approved a new arms sale for Taiwan.

The deal includes 40 M109A6 howitzer artillery systems and nearly 1,700 precision guidance kits for GPS-guided munitions. The deal is worth up to US$750 million, or approximately NT$21 billion. It’s also the first arms sales to Taiwan approved by the Biden administration

Taiwan’s Presidential Office issued a statement thanking the U.S. government for fulfilling its commitment to the Taiwan Relations Act and Six Assurances. It said the deal demonstrated that Taiwan’s defense capabilities were a key priority of the U.S. government. It said the arms would enhance Taiwan’s ability to ensure peace in the Taiwan Strait and wider region.

From the Republican Party’s Trump administration to the Democrats’ Biden administration, the U.S. has maintained its support for Taiwan’s self-defense. Taiwan’s artillery equipment is in need of a major upgrade. These new artillery will greatly ramp up Taiwan’s ground defense. It will make China think twice before mounting an attack on Taiwan, as the cost of doing so will be much higher.

The lawmaker says Biden’s latest show of support will enhance Taiwan’s self-defense. He says it’s another sign of the deepening military relationship between Taiwan and the U.S.