August 24, 2023
No. 279
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) of the Republic of China (Taiwan) has received official notification from the US government that its executive branch has informed Congress of an approximately US$500 million sale to Taiwan of infrared search and track systems. MOFA highly welcomes this news and thanks the US government for continuing to honor its security commitments to Taiwan as outlined in the Taiwan Relations Act and the Six Assurances.
This is the Biden administration’s 11th arms sale package to Taiwan since it assumed office in 2021. It continues the US policy of recent years to normalize arms sales to Taiwan. The announcement demonstrates the US government’s high regard for Taiwan’s defensive needs and readiness to assist Taiwan in the timely acquisition of defense articles needed to improve its defensive and deterrence capabilities.
In the face of China’s ongoing military expansion and provocations, Taiwan will do its utmost to enhance its self-defense capabilities in order to protect its people’s lives, property, and free and democratic way of life. It will also further deepen the close Taiwan-US security partnership to jointly safeguard the rules-based international order and ensure peace, stability, and prosperity across the Taiwan Strait and in the Indo-Pacific. (E)