US announces Taiwan weapons package worth up to US$345 million

WASHINGTON – The United States unveiled a Taiwan weapons aid package worth up to US$345 million (S$460 million) on Friday, a move likely to anger China, despite the Biden administration omitting details on arms in the package. Congress authorised up to US$1 billion worth of Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA) weapons aid for Taiwan, which strongly rejects Chinese sovereignty claims, in the 2023 budget. Beijing has repeatedly demanded the United States, Taiwan's most important arms supplier, halt the sale of weapons to the island. In recent weeks, four sources told Reuters the package was expected to include four unarmed MQ-9A reconnaissance…