The US State Department announced a vital defence agreement to Taiwan worth USD 11.1 billion. The arms deal was announced in a nationally televised press conference addressed by Donald Trump, President of the United States, on December 17. Upon completion, it would be the greatest sales package covering advanced equipment such as HIMARS and ATACMS, with a considerable amount of aluminium content in them, from the US to Taiwan, as well as plant a seed of doubt in the heart of China.
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Still awaiting approval from the US Congress, the contract was announced by the Defence Security Cooperation Agency, which handles the sales of US foreign military. The aim is to bolster the defensive capabilities of Taiwan, especially since the brewing tensions with China are rising to a peak. A deal between the two countries may send a loaded suggestion to China, which is the neighbour of Taiwan, but may wish to exercise territorial influence over the island. It has, therefore, elicited a strong reaction from the country.
According to the National Academies, modern aircraft alloys have about 80 per cent aluminium content. The US has dealt several aircraft parts or jets to Taiwan since the term of former US President Ronald Regan, such as F-104G interceptors, C-130 transports, F-16 jets etc., indicating a history of trade inclusive of aluminium-intensive products between the two countries.
Components of the agreement
The agreement covers 8 separate segments, adding up to an estimated amount of USD 11.15 billion. Associated Press reported the sales package consisting of 82 high-mobility artillery rocket systems (HIMARS), and 420 Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) of a range up to 186 miles, similar to those supplied to Ukraine from the Biden administration for defence purposes against Russia. Their valuation exceeds USD 4 billion.
Other components include 60 self-propelled howitzer systems and other implements worth over USD 4 billion, as well as drones costing more than USD 1 billion. Additionally, there are military software valued at USD 1 billion, Javelin and TOW missiles over USD 700 million, spare parts of helicopters worth USD 96 million and refurbishing kits for Harpoon missiles worth USD 91 million.
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