U.S. Approves The Sale Of Four Armed MQ-9 Reaper Drones To Taiwan

Flickr/US Air Force 

ABC News Online: US Government approves drone sale to Taiwan, in arms deal expected to anger China

The US State Department has cleared the potential sale of four "weapons-ready" aerial drones to Taiwan. 

The $US600 million ($833 million) deal would be the first such sale since the Trump administration loosened US policy on the export of sophisticated and closely guarded drone technology. 

The move is likely to infuriate China, which regards Taiwan as a renegade province and has reacted angrily to previous announcements about weapons sales to the island. 

The US State Department's formal notification gives Congress 30 days to object to any sales, which is unlikely given broad bipartisan support for the defence of Taiwan. 

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WNU Editor: China's response has been quick .... China says U.S. sends out 'wrong signals' to Taiwan on proposed drone sale (NBC). More here .... China pledges 'proper and necessary response' to new US arms sale to Taiwan (The Hill). 

 More News On The U.S. Approving The Sale Of Four Armed MQ-9 Reaper Drones To Taiwan 

US approves armed MQ-9B drones purchase by Taiwan -- Defense News/AP 

US approves sale of armed MQ-9 Reaper drones to Taiwan -- AFP 

U.S. Congress notified of drone sale to Taiwan: Pentagon -- Reuters 

$600 Million Sale of Four MQ-9 Reaper Drones to Taiwan Approved by US State Department -- Sputnik 

United States approves $600m sale of armed drones to Taiwan -- Al Jazeera