The U.S. State Department has greenlit a potential $385 million deal to sell spare parts for F-16 fighter jets and radars to Taiwan, according to the Pentagon’s announcement on Friday.
The approval comes just a day before Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te embarks on a delicate tour of the Pacific.
While the United States lacks formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan, U.S. law mandates providing the self-governing island with defensive capabilities, a stance that consistently provokes Beijing.
Taiwan, a democracy, firmly rejects China’s claims of sovereignty. Amid escalating tensions, China has intensified military activities around Taiwan, including two rounds of war exercises this year.
Security insiders have suggested that additional drills may coincide with Lai’s upcoming trip, which includes stops in Hawaii and Guam, both U.S. territories.
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency detailed that the approved sale includes $320 million worth of spare parts and support for F-16 jets, along with Active Electronically Scanned Array Radars and associated equipment.
Additionally, a $65 million deal for improved mobile subscriber equipment and support has been approved, with General Dynamics serving as the primary contractor.
Taiwan’s defense ministry expressed confidence that the transactions would be finalized within a month, emphasizing that the acquisitions would sustain the F-16 fleet’s operational readiness and bolster a credible defense force.
“Taiwan and the United States will continue to strengthen their security partnership and work together to maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and the Indo-Pacific region,” the ministry stated.
In a related development, the U.S. in October, approved a significant $2 billion arms package for Taiwan, which includes an advanced air defense missile system previously tested in Ukraine.
President Lai’s itinerary includes stopovers in Hawaii and Guam en route to visits in the Marshall Islands, Tuvalu, and Palau—three of the few nations that still maintain formal diplomatic ties with Taipei. Both Hawaii and Guam host significant U.S. military installations.
On Friday, China called for the U.S. to exercise “utmost caution” in its dealings with Taiwan, while the State Department dismissed any justification for viewing Lai’s travel as provocative, characterizing it as a private, routine, and unofficial transit.
