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The United States State Department has approved the sale of spare ship parts and equipment to the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office (TECRO), helping Taiwan meet current and future threats.
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency recently provided the necessary certification to Congress for the $120 million sale, comprising of unclassified spare and repair parts for ships, equipment, logistical technical assistance and US government and contractor support.
The sale is expected to help Taiwan’s security, political stability and maintenance of a military balance by supporting the sustainment of their surface vessel fleet.
It is further expected to enable greater military interoperability with the United States and their allies.
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency, however, outlined that the sale is unlikely to change the military balance of the region and will not decrease the United States military’s readiness.
The parts will be sourced via US Navy vendors or from US Navy Stock, with no prime contractor selected for this engagement.
The deal is subject to future amendments, with the DSCA explaining that the projected sum of US$120 million relates to the highest estimated quantity and dollar value of the initial requirements.
In April, the DSCA announced the approval of a US$95 million proposal from the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office for contractor technical assistance relating to the training, planning, fielding, deployment, operation, maintenance and sustainment of the Patriot Air Defense System.
The deal also includes the provision of associated equipment and logistics support as well as Patriot ground support equipment, spare parts and consumables.
“This proposed sale serves US national, economic, and security interests by supporting the recipient’s continuing efforts to modernise its armed forces and to maintain a credible defensive capability,” the DSCA noted.
“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.
“The proposed sale will help to sustain the recipient’s missile density and ensure readiness for air operations.”
This comes just months after Taiwan ordered equipment and services to support participation in the Patriot International Engineering Services Program (IESP) and Field Surveillance Program (FSP) over the next five years.
[Related: US greenlights proposed HIMARS rocket launcher sale to Australia]
