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Washington approves sale of 400 ANTI-SHIP missiles worth $2.37bn to Taiwan after Beijing vows sanctions for US arms dealers
The US State Department has given the nod for the sale of 100 Harpoon anti-ship missile systems to Taiwan, the latest in a series of massive weapons transfers to the island as Beijing warns it will retaliate with sanctions.
The $2.37 billion deal, announced by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency on Monday, includes up to 100 land-based Harpoon missile systems, some 400 munitions designed to take down enemy warships, 25 radar vehicles and a number of practice missiles. The sale now awaits final approval in Congress.
JUST IN: @StateDept approves possible sale of up to 100 #Harpoon Coastal Defense Systems- including 400 Harpoon Block II Surface Launched Missiles -worth $2.37 billion "If concluded, the proposed sale of this system will enhance #Taiwan’s defensive capability" per official pic.twitter.com/rb3Wslc2dK
— Jeff Seldin (@jseldin) October 26, 2020
Monday’s announcement comes as the fourth major sale approved to Taiwan over the last week, with the State Department green lighting three other deals for advanced weaponry last Wednesday, including for the HIMARS mobile rocket artillery system, long-range air-to-ground missiles and sensor upgrades for the country’s F-16 fighter jet fleet – all valued at over $1.8 billion.
In response to the last round of sales, Beijing said it would impose sanctions on three US arms manufacturers – Lockheed Martin, Boeing and a subsidiary of Raytheon – insisting the weapons transfers destabilize the region and violate Chinese sovereignty.
Also on rt.com Beijing targets US arms producers with sanctions over $1.8bn deal with Taiwan
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