Biden will ask Congress to approve the $1.1 billion arms sale to Taiwan

President Biden is preparing to ask Congress to approve more than $1 billion in arms sales for Taiwan as the country continues to face aggression from Communist China.

Congressional sources confirmed the deal to Fox News on Tuesday. The deal is likely to include air-to-air missiles and weapons to be used at sea.

The sale is estimated to cost approximately $1.1 billion. To succeed, Biden will need the support of top Republicans and Democrats on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

China has launched more and more military exercises near Taiwan’s coast, while Beijing’s warplanes have violated the country’s air defense space. One such military exercise took place in April while a bipartisan group of US officials visited Taiwan on an official trip.

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The deal is likely to include anti-ship missiles, air-to-air missiles and surveillance radar equipment.
(Reuters/Tyrone Siu)

The tactics have forced Taiwan to fight back with its military as the island nation’s people have been subjected to air raid drills and other security measures.

Members of Congress from both parties say the federal government needs to send a strong signal to China that aggression will not stand.

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“The Chinese Communist Party continues to bully and pressure our ally and the United States should always stand with freedom and democracy,” said Rep. Michelle Steel, R-Calif.

The visit by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi angered China, which saw the move as meddling in its affairs with Taiwan.
(AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying)

China’s aggression has only increased since House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., visited Taiwan last month. Pelosi’s visit angered the communist regime in Beijing, which saw the move as meddling in its affairs with Taiwan.

Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tennessee, traveled to Taiwan last week, earning the scorn of the Chinese embassy, ​​and other groups of both Republican and Democratic lawmakers have traveled to the country in recent months.

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The US does not have official diplomatic relations with Taiwan, but it does have a strong unofficial relationship. White House officials have argued in recent weeks that Biden remains firmly committed to the “One China” policy, which recognizes Beijing’s government while maintaining informal economic and defense ties with Taiwan.