The US government is reportedly planning to sell $1.1 billion worth of weapons to Taiwan.

The news magazine "Politico" reported on Monday, citing three sources familiar with the process.

Among other things, the draft contract includes the delivery of 60 anti-ship missiles worth $355 million and 100 air-to-air missiles worth $85 million;

in addition, a contract extension for a surveillance radar is planned, for which 655 million dollars are set.

The gun sale would be the biggest since Joe Biden took office.

In October 2020, the US government sold $2.4 billion in arms to Taiwan.

Sofia Dreisbach

North American political correspondent based in Washington.

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The potential arms shipments come at a time of strained relations between the United States and China after House "speaker" Democrat Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan in early August.

This resulted in Chinese military maneuvers.

America accuses China of using Pelosi's visit as an excuse to increase pressure on Taiwan.

Since then, several American delegations led by both Democratic and Republican politicians have traveled to Taiwan.

Arizona Republican Governor Doug Ducey was the latest visitor to Taiwan on Tuesday.

China laments "provocation"

According to the Bloomberg news agency, the State Department briefed Congress on Monday about the planned arms sale.

Now they have the opportunity to articulate questions or concerns about the sale.

If Congress disapproves of the gun purchase, Biden is unlikely to approve the proposed deal.

However, given the bipartisan support for Taiwan, that seems unlikely.

So far, no MP has publicly commented on the planned arms deal.

The State Department declined to comment, according to Politico.

China's foreign ministry called for a halt to arms sales and military contacts with Taiwan in a statement given to Bloomberg news agency on Tuesday.

"China strongly opposes US arms sales to China's Taiwan region," it said.

That doesn't change anything.

On Sunday, US forces sent warships through the Taiwan Strait for the first time since Pelosi's visit.

China described the journey of the two warships on Monday as a "provocation".

America committed under the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979 to providing Taipei with as many arms and services as are needed to defend the island.

The reason for the law was the diplomatic recognition of the People's Republic of China by the United States, which was accompanied by a severing of official relations with Taipei because both governments claimed to represent China.