The US State Department has approved the potential sale to Taiwan of about $75 million of advanced tactical data link system upgrade planning, the Pentagon said on Wednesday.
The package would include Cross Domain Solutions, High Assurance devices, Global Positioning System receivers, communications equipment, technical services and other related elements of logistics and program support, the Pentagon said. The sale comes amid rising tensions between Taiwan and China, which claims the island as its own territory.
The Pentagon’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress of the possible sale on Wednesday. Despite approval by the State Department, the notification does not indicate that a contract has been signed or that negotiations have concluded. The Pentagon said the prime contractor will be determined in competitive processes.
Last month, China announced sanctions on five American defence-related companies in response to US arms sales to Taiwan and US sanctions on Chinese companies and individuals. The sanctions are meant to freeze any property the companies have in China and prohibit organisations and individuals in China from doing business with them.
Agency reports said that such sanctions are often mostly symbolic as American defence contractors generally don’t sell to China. The Chinese Foreign Ministry said the US moves harmed China’s sovereignty and security interests, undermined peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and violated the rights and interests of Chinese companies and individuals.
Earlier, the US government approved a $300 million military package for Taiwan in December. The deal includes equipment, training and equipment repair to maintain Taiwan’s command, control and military communications capabilities. The US said the sale would support the modernisation of Taiwan’s armed forces and the maintenance of a credible defense.
Taiwan is a major flashpoint in US-China relations that analysts worry could explode into military conflict between the two powers. China says that US arms sales to Taiwan are interference in its domestic affairs. The Chinese military regularly sends fighter planes and ships into and over the waters around Taiwan, in part to deter the island’s government from declaring formal independence.
(With agency inputs)
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