DEFENSE/U.S. announces US$300 million arms sale to maintain Taiwan's C4 capabilities

Taipei, Dec. 16 (CNA) The United States Department of State has approved a US$300 million Foreign Military Sale (FMS) to Taiwan that includes follow-on life cycle support and related equipment to maintain the C4 (Command, Control, Communications, and Computers ) capabilities of its military forces.

The Pentagon's Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) has delivered the required certification to the U.S. Congress, notifying it of the possible FMS, according to its statement dated Dec. 15.

The FMS is the 12th of its kind under the administration of U.S. President Joe Biden.

According to the DSCA, Taipei has requested to purchase follow-on life cycle support for the C4 capabilities managed under its Syun An program, which maintains and modernizes military ability.

"The proposed sale will improve the recipient's capability to meet current and future threats by enhancing operational readiness and maintenance of its existing C4 capabilities and sustaining capabilities that provide secure flow of tactical information required for the development of a Joint Common Operational Picture (COP)," the DSCA stated.

A COP is a continuously updated overview of information shared by more than one command that enables them to make informed and accurate decisions.

Meanwhile, Taiwan's Defense Ministry said that the FMS would enable it to maintain its C4 capabilities, which is crucial for achieving a COP, which would help enhance its situational awareness on the battlefield.

The ministry expressed gratitude to the U.S. for its continual provision of defense articles under the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA) and the Six Assurances, which is the foundation of regional peace and stability in the face of an increasingly aggressive China.

Ministry officials in May confirmed during a legislature hearing that Washington had said it would help Taiwan secure the Link 22 tactical data link technology used by NATO countries to help the country as it makes efforts to upgrade its capability to produce a COP.

If Taiwan obtains Link 22, it would be able to bolster beyond line-of-sight communications, interconnect air, surface, subsurface, and ground-based tactical data systems, and vastly improve its capability to exchange tactical data with U.S. forces.

In a statement, Taiwan's Presidential Office spokesperson Olivia Lin (林聿禪) said the latest FMS signified the U.S.' unwavering commitment to Taiwan's security under the TRA and the Six Assurances.

Taiwan will continue building up its capability to attain "defense autonomy," deepening Taiwan-U.S. relations, and working with like-minded countries in ensuring peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region, Lin said.