US State Department approved the possible sale of NASAMS air defense systems and radar stations to Taiwan for almost $2 billion, the Security Cooperation Agency of the US Department of Defense said on Friday, as quoted by RIA Novosti.
The document authorized the potential sale of $1.16 billion worth of NASAMS systems and related equipment, as well as $828 million worth of AN/TPS-77 and AN/TPS-78 radars an agency responsible for the delivery of military equipment and weapons abroad under intergovernmental contracts. The Taipei Economic and Cultural Mission (the island's de facto embassy) requested these systems from the United States. As noted in the statement, the potential deal does not violate US law and will not harm US military readiness.
The US administration has already notified Congress of this decision. The legislature now has 30 days to review the potential deal and possibly block it.