TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The U.S. State Department on Wednesday (June 5) announced the sale of US$300 million (NT$9.68 billion) of spare and repair parts for Taiwan's F-16s.
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said the Taiwan representative office in the U.S. wanted to buy US$220 million of standard spare and repair parts for F-16s, as well as US$80 million of “non-standard spare and repair parts” for the fighter jets. The State Department said the sale would improve Taiwan's “ability to meet current and future threats by maintaining the operational readiness” of its F-16s fleet.
The agency said the potential sale serves U.S. interests by bolstering Taiwan's efforts to “modernize its armed forces and to maintain a credible defensive capability.” It added the sale would help improve Taiwan's security and maintain “political stability, military balance, and economic progress in the region.”
The DSCA said it notified Congress of the proposed sale on Wednesday.
At 9:30 a.m. on Thursday (June 6), the Ministry of National Defense (MND) issued a press release announcing the sale.
In the statement, the ministry said, "In the face of the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP's) attempts to regularize incursions in the gray zone, which squeezes our air and sea training space and reaction time and limit our right to self-defense and countermeasures, the U.S.'s agreement to supply these spare parts and components will help maintain the readiness and replenishment of our Air Force's equipment."
It added the sale would meet the needs of Taiwan's defensive operations and combat readiness training, “ensuring that our conventional combat capabilities remain intact.”
The MND emphasized the stability of the Taiwan Strait requires joint efforts from both sides of the strait. “We have shown the utmost goodwill, but military intimidation does not contribute to regional peace,” said the ministry.
It then urged the CCP to “stop all irrational behavior towards Taiwan.” In addition, based on the Taiwan Relations Act and the Six Assurances, the ministry said the U.S. continues to assist Taiwan in maintaining sufficient self-defense capabilities.
Less than an hour later, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) also issed a statement thanking the U.S. government for its its continued commitment to Taiwan's security. MOFA pointed out that this marks the 14th U.S. weapons sale to Taiwan since U.S. President Joe Biden took the Oval Office in 2021.
The ministry added this demonstrates the U.S. government's “long-term rock-solid security commitment to Taiwan and its high regard and support for regional peace and stability.”