The United States agreed to sell $500 million worth of new weapons to Taiwan as Chinese aggression intensified

Washington (AP) — The Biden administration has approved a $500 million arms sale to the United States Taiwan At a time when military aid to the island has intensified despite strong objections on its part China.

The US State Department said on Wednesday that it has signed the sale of infrared search tracking systems along with related equipment for the advanced F-16 fighter jets. It added that the sale includes infrared systems as well as support and test equipment, computer software and spare parts.

Although the deal is modest in comparison Previous arms salesThe move is likely to draw heavy criticism from Beijing, which views self-ruled Taiwan as a renegade province and refuses to rule it out. Use of force to reunite it with the mainland.

“This proposed sale serves the national, economic, and security interests of the United States by supporting the recipient nation’s ongoing efforts to modernize its armed forces and maintain a reliable defense capability,” the State Department said in a statement.

“The proposed sale will improve the recipient nation’s ability to confront current and future threats by contributing to the recipient nation’s capabilities to defend its airspace, provide regional security, and increase interoperability with the United States through its F-16 program,” it said.

The announcement came just hours after Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen made the announcement pledge renewed To promote Taiwan’s self-defense while visiting a war memorial from the last time Taiwan and China clashed. Tsai visited the remote Kinmen Islands, where the conflict took place 65 years ago, and paid tribute to those who died.

The State Department’s announcement on Wednesday also follows an angry Chinese reaction to Taiwanese Vice President William Lai’s transit through the United States on his way to and from the United States. Official visit in Paraguay last week.

In recent years, China has stepped up its military activity in the waters and skies around Taiwan, sending fighter planes and naval ships near or to encircle the island.