State Department Approves Military Sale to Taiwan; China Threatens Sanctions

The State Department approved the potential sale of $8 billion worth of defense-related goods to Taiwan, the Defense Department’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency said in an Aug. 20 press release. The sale to the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office includes 66 F-16C/D Block 70 aircraft, engines, radars, computers, “multipurpose launchers” and other military products. The sale serves U.S. national interests by supporting Taiwan’s military to help it “maintain a credible defensive capability,” the press release said.

China said it will sanction any U.S. companies involved in the sale and warned the U.S. should “immediately back away” from the transaction, according to the Associated Press.