The United States announced the approval of a new batch of arms sales to Taiwan. The Pentagon said the sales would help Taiwan improve its self-defense capability and its military engagement with the United States.
The US State Department announced on Wednesday (March 1, 2023) that it has legally notified Congress of the sale of advanced weapons to Taiwan.
Clarifying and explaining the arms sales, a senior State Department official said the arms sales equip Taiwan’s F-16 fighter jets with up to US$619 million in various weapons. China Policy; Since 2010, the administration has reported to Congress more than $37 billion in arms sales to Taiwan.
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The Pentagon detailed the latest arms sales to Taiwan in a news release Wednesday, saying Taiwan’s request includes 100 AGM-88B high-speed anti-radiation missiles (HARM) and 200 AIM-120C-8 Advanced Medium Range Air-To-Air missiles. Includes air missiles.
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“The proposed sale will help enhance the recipient’s ability to defend its airspace and regional security and to intervene with the United States,” the Pentagon statement said.
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The American “Wall Street Journal” recently reported that the US military will increase the number of troops stationed in Taiwan from 100 to 200 in order to train the Taiwanese military and counter the growing threat of power from China. The main purpose of adding more U.S. troops to Taiwan is to strengthen coordination between the U.S. and Taiwanese militaries and to prepare for joint operations in response to a possible war in the Taiwan Strait.
 A US P-8A anti-submarine patrol aircraft crossed the Taiwan Strait on Monday.
The Chinese military said it had monitored the entire operation of the US military aircraft and would maintain high alert at all times to protect national sovereignty.
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Over the next two days, the Chinese military significantly stepped up their activities around Taiwan.
 Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense released a daily intelligence report on the Taiwan Strait on Wednesday, saying that as of 6 a.m. that day, “a total of 29 aircraft flights and 4 ships were detected and that the strait continued to operate around Taiwan. The military closely monitored and responded to the mission’s aircraft, ships, and shore-based missile systems.” This is larger than the scale discovered by Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense a day earlier.
 Beijing insists that Taiwan is a province that will be reunified, will use force if necessary and opposes US arms sales to Taiwan and any move to encourage “Taiwan independence.” “Opposition” does.