The Donald Trump administration has approved the sale of weapons to Taiwan for $10 billion. The package includes medium-range missiles, howitzers and drones, the Associated Press reports.
The eight arms sales agreements cover 82 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) and 420 Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS), 60 self-propelled howitzer systems and related equipment worth more than $4 billion, as well as drones worth more than $1 billion.
Other sales in the package include more than $1 billion in military software, more than $700 million in Javelin and TOW missiles, spare parts for helicopters worth $96 million and Harpoon missile upgrade kits worth $91 million.
The State Department said the sales serve the national, economic, and security interests of the United States by supporting the recipient's ongoing efforts to modernize its armed forces and maintain a credible defense capability.
Under federal law, the United States is obligated to help Taiwan defend itself.
Taiwan's Ministry of Defense expressed gratitude to the United States for the sale, which will help Taiwan maintain sufficient self-defense capabilities and provide a strong deterrent.