The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) of the Republic of China (Taiwan) has received official notification from the United States government that its executive branch has informed Congress of an approximately US$300 million sale to Taiwan of standard and nonstandard aviation parts and equipment for F-16 aircraft, with a view to assisting in strengthening Taiwan’s self-defense capabilities. MOFA highly welcomes this news and thanks the US government for continuing to honor its security commitments as outlined in the Taiwan Relations Act and the Six Assurances.

This is the Biden administration’s 14th arms sale package to Taiwan since it assumed office in 2021. Continuing the US policy of recent years of normalizing arms sales to Taiwan, the transaction will assist in strengthening Taiwan’s self-defense and deterrence capabilities. It demonstrates the US government’s long-standing and rock-solid security commitment to Taiwan, as well as high regard and support for the status quo of regional peace and stability.

With regard to the major military drills recently conducted by China in the waters surrounding Taiwan, as well as China’s increasingly frequent gray-zone incursions, the United States has worked with like-minded partners to repeatedly urge China to cease such irrational behavior as harassing Taiwan and damaging the peaceful and stable cross-strait status quo. In the face of the range of threats posed by China, Taiwan has shown its determination to protect its homeland. It will continue to enhance its self-defense capabilities and asymmetric combat strength, staunchly defend its free and democratic way of life, and pursue peace through strength. Furthermore, it will deepen the close Taiwan-US security partnership so as to jointly safeguard the rules-based international order and advance peace, stability, and prosperity across the Taiwan Strait and throughout the Indo-Pacific region. (E)