US Approves Taiwan $600 Million Drone Purchase

In a move that will likely complicate Chinese-U.S. relations, the U.S. has approved a sale of $600 million in armed drones to Taiwan, the latest in a series of arms deals for the island country.

The State Department reported Tuesday that Taiwan's purchase of four "weapons ready" remote piloted aircraft and related equipment was approved.

Harpoon anti-ship missile firing (Courtesy website of the Australian navy)

“This proposed sale serves U.S. national, economic, and security interests by supporting the recipient’s continuing efforts to modernize its armed forces and to maintain a credible defensive capability,” the State department said. “The proposed sale will help improve the security of the recipient and assist in maintaining political stability, military balance, economic and progress in the region.”

This acquisition would improve Taiwan's defense by bolstering its intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities and could help deter military action against it. The capabilities have become more important since China has threatened to invade the island.

China's ruling Communist Party still claims Taiwan as part of its territory and regards it as a renegade province since it split with the mainland nation in 1949 during a civil war. It has repeatedly threatened to invade the island, and reacted reacted angrily to previous announcements of weapons sales to Taiwan.

This latest sales announcement is likely to evoke a similar response.

Washington agreed in the 1980s to reduce and eventually end weapons sales to Taiwan, but weapons sales to the island have increased in quantity and quality.

Just last week, the U.S. administration approved plans for a $2.37 billion sale of Harpoon missile systems to Taiwan. This was announced just hours after Beijing announced sanctions on U.S. contractors, including Boeing, who is the lead contractor on the harpoon deal.

While Washington has no formal relations to the island's democratically elected government, it has been its main ally. U.S. law requires the government to ensure Taiwan can defend itself.

U.S. law also regulates the way these items can be shipped to the island.

International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR)  control the export of defense and military related technologies, which means sensitive items must be exported by ITAR registered entities. Fewer suppliers from the U.S. will be able to facilitate a deal like this one, however select distributors, like Milspec.parts, buyaircraftparts.com, and dodparts.com, are eligible to export ITAR items.

Taiwan has long been a sore subject in Chinese-U.S. relations, but as long as the administration continues to authorize sales to the island, distributors will be selling to them.