Taiwan Gets $345-M Weapons Package From U.S.

The US unveiled a Taiwan weapons aid package worth up to $345 million, a move likely to anger China even as the Biden administration declined to publicly provide details on the arms in the package, Mike Stone and Idrees Ali reported for Reuters.

Photo Insert: Taiwan had previously agreed to purchase four, more advanced, MQ-9B SeaGuardian drones, made by General Atomics, which are slated for delivery in 2025.

Congress authorized up to $1 billion worth of Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA) weapons aid for Taiwan, which rejects Chinese sovereignty claims, in the 2023 budget. Beijing has repeatedly demanded the US, Taiwan's most important arms supplier, halt the sale of weapons to the island.

Taiwan had previously agreed to purchase four, more advanced, MQ-9B SeaGuardian drones, made by General Atomics, which are slated for delivery in 2025.

In recent weeks, four sources told Reuters the package was expected to include four unarmed MQ-9A reconnaissance drones, but noted their inclusion could fall through as officials work through details on removing some of the advanced equipment from the drones that only the US Air Force is allowed access to.

Taiwan's defense ministry thanked the US for its "firm security commitment," adding in a statement it will not comment on the package details due to the "tacit agreement" between the two sides.

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