The Biden administration will ask Congress to approve $1.1 BILLION arms sale to Taiwan

The Biden administration will ask Congress to approve a $1.1 billion arms sale to Taiwan, as China and Russia hold major war games in the region. 

Politico first reported on the deal, saying that the package includes 60 anti-ship missile and 100 air-to-air missiles, citing three sources with direct knowledge of the matter. 

China has acted more aggressively toward Taiwan since House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to the self-governing island earlier this month. 

Taiwan’s National Military of Defense handout picture taken last week shows US-made M60-A3 tanks firing during a drill at Penghu islands

Chinese servicemen participate in drills Monday in Sergeyevsky, Russia, as part of joint training between the two countries 

In a handout photo from the Russian Defense Ministry Press Service, Chinese military helicopter gunships fire rockets during joint war games with Russia and China last year. The two countries will participate in more war games this week 

Pelosi was the first House speaker to visit Taiwan in 25 years. 

Since then, Beijing has sent war ships and aircraft into the Taiwan Strait on a daily basis.  

And in response to Pelosi’s visit – which China warned against in advance – Beijing shot missiles over the island for the first time.  

The Chinese believe Taiwan belongs to them and don’t like it when foreign government officials make visits to the island because it could look like those nations support Taiwan’s independence.   

A number of other U.S. government officials, incluing Republican Sen. Marsha Blackburn, visited Taiwan this summer. 

Blackburn called Taiwan an ‘independent nation’ during her trip. 

Politico reported that the package – which is still in its early stage – includes 60 AGM-84L Harpoon Block II missiles for $355 million, 100 AIM-9X Block II Sidewinder tactical air-to-air missiles for $85.6 million, and $655.4 million for a surveillance radar contract extension. 

The Sidewinder missiles arm the F16 fighter jets Taipei previously purchased from the United States.   

U.S. officials have voiced concerns about China attempting to take Taiwan by military force – especially after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. 

The U.S. and Western allies have tried to bolster the defenses of the island. 

Additionally starting September 1, China and Russia will be participating in joint military exercises that will involve more than 50,000 troops, over 5,000 weapons units, including 140 aircraft and 60 warships. 

Russian President Vladimir Putin also strongly condemned Pelosi’s trip to Taiwan in early August.