The Biden administration plans to ask the US Congress to approve an estimated $1.1 billion arms sale to Taiwan, including 60 anti-ship missiles and 100 air-to-air missiles, Politico reported on Monday, citing sources, amid heightened tensions with China.
After a visit this month by US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, China carried out its largest war games around the democratically governed island. Beijing has vowed to bring the island under its control one day, even if it means using force.
China on Monday dismissed complaints from Taiwan about repeated harassment by Chinese drones in vicinity of Taiwanese-controlled islands as not anything “to make a fuss about”. This made Taipei label Beijing as thieves.
President Joe Biden’s administration and US lawmakers stress their ongoing support for the government in Taipei, and there are items in the approval pipeline for Taiwan that could be announced in the coming weeks or months, Reuters reported last week.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the Politico report.
