JAKARTA - The United States has approved a possible sale of $100 million worth of equipment and services to Taiwan to maintain, maintain and upgrade the country's Patriot missile defense system, the Pentagon said.
A statement from the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said the agency had submitted the certification required to notify Congress, following State Department approval for the sale, which was requested by Taiwan's de facto embassy in Washington.
Upgrades to the Patriot Air Defense System will "help enhance receiver security and help maintain political stability, military balance, economy and progress in the region," the DSCA said in a statement.
"This proposed sale serves US national, economic, and security interests by supporting the recipient's ongoing efforts to modernize its armed forces and to maintain a credible defense capability," the agency said.
According to the agency, the main contractors for the deal are Raytheon Technologies and Lockheed Martin.
Meanwhile, Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it "strongly welcomes" the decision.
"In the face of China's continued military expansion and provocative actions, our country will safeguard its national security with solid defense, and continue to deepen the close security partnership between Taiwan and the United States," the ministry said in a statement.
Taiwan's Ministry of Defense said the decision to acquire the newer Patriot missiles was made during a 2019 meeting with US officials during the Trump administration.
The ministry said the deal was expected to "take effect" within a month.
To note, democratically-ruled Taiwan has complained of repeated missions by the Chinese Air Force in its air defense zone, part of what Washington sees as Beijing's efforts to pressure Taipei into accepting its sovereignty.
The United States, like most countries, has no formal relations with Taiwan, but Washington is its biggest backer and is bound by law to provide means of self-defense.
US officials have pushed for Taiwan to modernize its military so that it can become a 'hedgehog' that China is difficult to attack, with such arms sales always angering China.
Meanwhile, China's ambassador to the United States last month said the two superpowers could end up in a military conflict if Washington pushed for Taiwan's independence.
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