US approves $330-mn arms sale to Taiwan

THE US APPROVED the sale of fighter jet and other aircraft parts to Taiwan for $330 million on Thursday, marking the first such transaction since President Donald Trump took office in January, drawing thanks from Taipei and anger in Beijing.

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“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 other aircraft, the Pentagon said in a statement.

Washington has formal diplomatic ties with Beijing, but maintains unofficial ties with Taiwan and is the island’s most important arms supplier. The United States is bound by law to provide Taiwan with the means to defend itself.