Taiwan to get $619M U.S. military boost amid 2nd day of reported Chinese incursions

Taiwan's defence ministry said that during the last 24 hours it had spotted 21 Chinese aircraft its air defence identification zone, after reporting 19 aircraft the day before.

The United States has approved the potential sale of $619 million in new weapons to Taiwan, including missiles for its F-16 fleet, as the island reported a second day of large-scale Chinese air force incursions nearby.

The arms sales are likely to further sour already tense ties between Washington and Beijing, which has repeatedly demanded such deals stop, viewing them as unwarranted support for democratically governed Taiwan, an island China claims as its own territory.

The Pentagon said on Wednesday the U.S. State Department has approved the potential sale to Taiwan of arms and equipment that includes 200 anti-aircraft Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM).

“The proposed sale will contribute to the recipient’s capability to provide for the defence of its airspace, regional security, and interoperability with the United States,” it said in a statement.

Taiwan’s defense ministry said the missiles would help “effectively defend the airspace to deal with threats and provocations from the Communist military” and would bolster defense stockpiles.

Raytheon Technologies RTX.N and Lockheed Martin LMT.N are the principal contractors, it added. China has sanctioned both companies for selling Taiwan weapons.

Taiwan has complained for the past three years or so of stepped-up Chinese military activities near the island as Beijing seeks to assert its sovereignty claims.

Taiwan reported on Thursday a second day of large-scale Chinese air force incursions into its air defence identification zone, with its defence ministry saying that during the last 24 hours it had spotted 21 aircraft.