US State Department confirms possible $2.2 billion arms sale to Taipei

The Pentagon said on Monday that the US State Department has approved the possible sale of M1A2T Abrams tanks, Stinger missiles, and related equipment at an estimated value of $2.2 billion, to Taiwan.

Iran Press/Asia: China’s Foreign Ministry said last month when the possible sale was first reported that it was seriously concerned about US arms sales to self-ruled Taiwan, and it urged the United States to halt the sales to avoid harming bilateral ties.

The sale of the weapons requested by Taiwan, including 108 General Dynamics Corp (GD.N) M1A2T Abrams tanks and 250 Stinger missiles, would not alter the basic military balance in the region, the Pentagon’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency claimed in a statement in order to de-escalate the tension, Reuters reported.

The US’ Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notified Congress on Monday of the possible arms sale, which it said could also include mounted machine guns, ammunition, Hercules armored vehicles for recovering inoperative tanks, heavy equipment transporters and related support.

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