(Washington / Taipei Comprehensive News) The U.S. Department of Defense approves to sell more than 500 million US dollars (about S $ 670 million) to Taiwan for advanced sensor equipment for Taiwan; Taiwan will spend an additional NT $ 94.3 billion (about 4 billionXinyuan), buying weapons including fighters to deal with threats from mainland China.
On Wednesday (August 23), local time of the United States Department of Defense announced the latest round of military sales against Taiwan.This is the 11th time of the Bayeon government in the United States. It also assisted Taiwan to strengthen its defense capabilities after it was announced on July 28 that it would provide US $ 345 million in military aid.
Comprehensive Reuters, Lianhe Daily Free Times, China Times News Network, etc., the United States will be sold to Taiwan as the F-16 fighter infrared tracking reconnaissance system.The U.S. government said it was to help Taiwan "maintain a reliable defense ability."
The Ministry of National Defense of Taiwan said that the new equipment will be used for the latest F-16V (BLK70) fighter.
The Taiwan government on Thursday (August 24) thanked the U.S. government for providing defensive weapons to Taiwan in accordance with the Taiwan Relations Law and the "Six guarantees", and "continued to implement the security commitment to Taiwan."
Reuters pointed out that although the U.S. State Department has approved and notified Congress the latest military sales plan for Taiwan, it has not stated that the contract has been signed or negotiated.However, the Taiwan Ministry of National Defense said that the sale is expected to "take effect within one month."
Bo Honghui, deputy minister of the Ministry of National Defense of Taiwan, said that the United States is planning to Taiwan military sales. The relevant military purchase funds have been listed in the total budget of 2024, but it cannot be disclosed that the budget amount cannot be disclosed.
Wang Wenbin, a spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mainland China on Thursday (August 24) at a regular press conference, urged the United States to abide by a China Principles and the three joint communiqués of China and the United States, "Immediately withdraw the Taiwan military sales plan to stop selling for sale and stop selling for sale.Taiwan weapons and US -Taiwan military contacts stop the dangerous trend of armed Taiwan, and stop endangering the peace and stability of the Taiwan Strait. "
On the other hand, the Taiwan Executive Yuan will pass the total budget of the Central Government next year on Thursday. The overall size of the defense budget will reach NT $ 606.8 billion, which will account for 2.5%of the GDP, a record high.Reuters reports that this includes 94.3 billion Taiwan dollars that will be spent next year to buy weapons such as fighters.In the eight -year administration of the Tsai Ing -wen government, Taiwan's defense budget increased by 38%.
Han Rubing, president of the US and Taiwan Chamber of Commerce, revealed that the Bayeng government was considering the cancellation of the plan to sell the F-16V fighter to Taiwan last year, and eventually stopped due to the high legal difficulties.The US-Taiwan government has confirmed that the delivery of the F-16V fighter is facing delay, but this is the first time that the Biden government has considered canceling the selling plan.
According to Reuters, Taiwan has converted 141 F-16A/B jet fighters into F-16V fighters and ordered 66 new F-16V. These fighters have advanced aviation electronic equipment, weapons and radar systems., Can better fight against the Air Force of China, including J-20 fighters.
