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The US State Department has approved a possible US$350 million foreign military sale of aircraft components, repair parts and support to Taiwan’s Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the US.
The US Congress was notified of the possible sale by the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) on 13 November this year.
The potential sale includes non-standard components, spare parts, repair parts as well as repair and return support for F-16, C-130, and Indigenous Defense Fighter (IDF) aircraft.
It also reportedly includes US government and contractor engineering, technical and logistics support services.
“The proposed sale is consistent with US law and policy as expressed in Public Law 96-8. This proposed sale serves US national, economic and security interests by supporting the recipient’s continuing efforts to modernise its armed forces and to maintain a credible defensive capability,” according to a statement from the US DSCA.
“The proposed sale will help improve the security of the recipient and assist in maintaining political stability, military balance and economic progress in the region.
“The proposed sale will improve the recipient’s capability to meet current and future threats by maintaining the operational readiness of the recipient’s fleet of F-16, C-130, and IDF aircraft. The recipient will have no difficulty absorbing these articles and services into its armed forces.
“The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region.
“The equipment will be transferred from US government stock. Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the assignment of any additional US government or contractor representatives to the recipient.
“There will be no adverse impact on US defence readiness as a result of this proposed sale.”
