TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The US-Taiwan Business Council (USTBC) welcomed the latest potential US arms sale to Taiwan on Monday (Oct. 28).

The US State Department announced the possible sale of three National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS), 123 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles-Extended Range (AMRAAM-ER), in addition to AN/TPS-77 and AN/TPS-78 Radar Turnkey Systems to Taiwan on Saturday. “This is an important development, and both the Biden and Lai administrations should be commended for consummating these programs,” USTBC President Rupert Hammond-Chambers said in a statement. The arms package is “a significant step forward in the modernization of Taiwan’s air-defense architecture,” he added. 

Rupert Hammond said the sale signifies a major shift in the Biden administration’s approach to bolstering Taiwan’s defense. He hoped the US would consider all other military threats directed at Taiwan, “not just those involving a kinetic attack. "

The USTBC president was previously critical of Biden’s cautious strategy of only approving “small value” weapons sales to Taiwan. When the US approved a package of aircraft spare parts and maintenance equipment, he said it was reminiscent of the pre-Trump era “where greater than US$1 billion Taiwan arms sales were considered overly provocative toward Beijing and therefore to be avoided.” 

Washington’s lack of consideration for gray zone, blockade, and quarantine scenarios “is destabilizing over time,” Hammond-Chambers said. “Meanwhile, China’s force modernization continues apace.”