Taiwan has submitted a proposal to the US for the purchase of tanks, missiles, and air defense systems worth more than $2 billion. The State Department and the Department of Defense have given notification of the proposal to the US Congress, which now has 120 days to respond. The package, if approved, would constitute the first ever sale of the M1A1 Abrams Tank to Taiwan. China is said to be “severely concerned” over the sale of arms to the self-ruled island that it asserts to be part of its territory.
Though the US has no official diplomatic relations with Taiwan, the Taiwan Relations Act does bind the US to help Taiwan maintain “sufficient self-defense capabilities.” The White House endorsed Taiwan’s request to buy 60 F-16 fighter jets in March.
