US State Department Approves Possible F-16 Munitions Sale to Taiwan

Washington, March 2 – The US State Department has approved a possible sale to Taiwan of munitions for US fourth-generation F-16 fighter jets and related equipment for a total of about $619 million, the Pentagon’s Security Cooperation Agency said Wednesday.

As stated in a widely circulated statement from the department, the proposed sale of these weapons “will serve the economic and national security interests of the United States.” Thus, Washington expects to “support Taiwan’s continued efforts to modernize its armed forces and maintain a reliable defense potential.”

“A potential sale will help improve the security of the party that receives these weapons and will also help maintain political stability, military balance and economic progress in the region,” the agency said.

The US administration has already formally notified the US Congress of this decision. The legislature now has a month to review the potential deal and decide whether to block it.