State Department of the US has approved the possible sale of drones and missiles for about $360 million to Taiwan. This was announced by the Pentagon's Defense Cooperation Agency, reported "Reuters".
The sale "will help enhance the recipient's security and help maintain political stability, military balance and economic progress in the region," the Pentagon said in separate statements Tuesday.
The sale includes Switchblade 300 anti-personnel and anti-armor munitions and related equipment at an estimated cost of $60.2 million, and ALTIUS 600M-V drones and related equipment at an estimated cost of $300 million.
Taiwan's Ministry of Defense expressed its gratitude, particularly for US efforts to increase arms sales to the island.
"In the face of frequent Chinese Communist military operations around Taiwan, these weapons will have the ability to detect and strike in real time and can respond quickly to enemy threats," it said in a statement.
Only military force can maintain peace with China and the Taiwanese people will not surrender to Chinese coercion, Taiwan President Lai Ching-te said on Wednesday.
"People in Taiwan love peace. But peace must rely on strength, which is to say avoiding war by preparing for war in order to achieve peace. "Empty promises are not real peace," he commented.
China's national policy is to annex Taiwan, Lai added.