The executive branch of the United States is required by law to inform Congress of possible arms sales that exceed a specific threshold. However, these notices are often not sent until Congress has granted the State Department and Pentagon tacit permission to proceed.
According to the Pentagon, the US State Department has cleared the probable sale of Volcano anti-tank mine-laying devices to Taiwan for an estimated $180 million.
The primary contractors for the possible sale are Northrop Grumman and Oshkosh Corporation.
The executive branch of the United States is required by law to inform Congress of possible arms sales that exceed a specific threshold. However, these notices are often not sent until Congress have granted the State Department and Pentagon tacit permission to proceed.
The prospective agreement comes as China increases military, diplomatic, and economic pressure on Taiwan in order to enforce its sovereignty claims, including nearly daily Chinese air force sorties near the island over the last three years.
Taiwan’s defense ministry said in a statement that the sale will go into effect in roughly a month and that the system would strengthen the island’s “asymmetric warfare” capability, allowing its troops to be more nimble.
“The Chinese Communist Party’s frequent military activities near Taiwan have posted severe military threats to us,” the ministry stated, adding that ongoing US military sales are “cornerstone of maintaining regional stability and peace.”
The United States is Taiwan’s most powerful overseas ally and primary supply of armaments, which irritates China.
China claims self-governed Taiwan as its own territory and vows to take the island by force, if necessary. Taiwan strongly rejects Beijing’s sovereignty claim and says it will defend itself if attacked.
