Trump administration set to approve large arms sale with Taiwan

The Trump administration is set to approve a large arms sale to Taiwan amid rising tensions between the U.S. and China, multiple outlets are reporting. 

China’s government considers Taiwan to be a territory, though the self-governing island does not recognize Beijing’s government. 

The U.S. government is preparing to sell Taiwan seven packages of weapons, though it’s unclear when Congress would be formally notified about the sales, as is required by law, sources told CNN.

The packages include anti-ship missiles and other long-range missiles that would allow Taiwanese jets to hit distant Chinese targets in the event of a conflict, according to The New York Times.

A US official told CNN the administration will soon formally approve a large sale of MQ-9B Reaper drones. The total cost of the drones reportedly amounts to $600 million.

Last month the U.S. finalized a deal with Taiwan to sell them up to 90 F-16 fighter jets at $8 billion. 

“The U.S. is increasingly concerned that deterrence is weakening as Chinese military capabilities grow,” Bonnie S. Glaser, a senior adviser for Asia at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told the Times. “The items in this package will help increase Taiwan’s ability to prevent a Chinese invasion — essentially to hold out longer.”