March 2, 2023
no. 056
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 a US$619 million sale of two types of missiles—the AGM-88B and AIM-120C—to Taiwan. MOFA warmly 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 first announcement of an arms sale to Taiwan in 2023 and its ninth public announcement overall. It continues the US policy of recent years to normalize arms sales to Taiwan. The announcement fully demonstrates the US government’s high regard for Taiwan’s defensive needs and readiness to assist Taiwan in the timely acquisition of necessary defense articles to improve its defensive capabilities.
In the face of China’s ongoing military expansion and provocation, Taiwan will continue to proactively enhance its self-defense capabilities. 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)