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U.S. Approves $2 Billion NASAMS Missile Sale to Taiwan; China Vows Countermeasures

Oct 26, 2024, 08:35 PM

The United States has approved a potential $2 billion arms sale to Taiwan, including advanced missile defense systems and radar equipment, amid rising tensions with China. The package, totaling $1.988 billion, includes three National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS), Sentinel radars, 123 AMRAAM-ER missiles, and AN/TPS-77 and AN/TPS-78 radar systems. This marks the first time Taiwan will receive the NASAMS system, which has been battle-tested in Ukraine. The sale reaffirms the U.S. commitment to Taiwan under the Taiwan Relations Act and Six Assurances, aiming to strengthen Taiwan's self-defense capabilities amid rising Chinese military pressure. China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the move, vowed to take "countermeasures," and deployed fighter jets and drones around Taiwan in a "joint combat readiness patrol." Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te declared that the island would not yield any of its territory, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomed the U.S. approval, emphasizing the determination to safeguard peace in the Taiwan Strait. The arms sale comes a week after Chinese military exercises near the island.