Taiwan thanks US for approving $11bn arms package

Taiwan’s presidential office offered “sincere thanks” to the US for approving an arms sale package worth about $11.1bn, the largest ever.

“Peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and the Indo-Pacific region are indispensable to the security and prosperity of the international community,” presidential office spokesperson Karen Kuo said in a statement.

Taiwan’s defence ministry said that the arms package would help build “strong deterrent power” and “asymmetric warfare advantages” as the island comes under greater pressure from China.