US Set to Clear Drone, Cruise Missile Sales to Taiwan even as China Conducts "Real" Combat Drills

US is set to clear the sale of General Atomics drones besides cruise missiles and mines in a major boost to Taiwanese defense capabilities even as Beijing commenced joint maritime and aerial exercises and combat-readiness patrols in the Taiwan Strait.

The “real combat-oriented drill,” as Chinese state control media called it, coincided with the visit of US Undersecretary of State Keith Krach to Taiwan island from Thursday for "economic talks." The visit is seen an arms sales push by the Trump administration at a time when Beijing-Taipei tensions are at an all-time high.

China held similar drills in August when US Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar visited the island nation.

On Taiwan’s shopping list are seven items including weapons packages from Lockheed Martin Co, Boeing Co and General Atomics. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will brief Trump on Taiwan’s arms packages this week. 

Some of the deals had been requested by Taiwan more than a year ago, but are only now being moved through the approval process. If signed, it will be rare departure from years of precedent in which US military sales to Taiwan were spaced out and carefully calibrated to minimize tensions with Beijing.

A senior US official said that Taiwan’s increased defense spending in light of Chinese aggression is a good step, but that it needs to do more. “Taiwan, frankly, needs to do more in order to ensure that they indigenously have an ability to deter Chinese aggression,” official said.

Meanwhile, the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) is holding joint maritime and aerial exercises and combat-readiness patrols in the Taiwan Straits. According to reports, 18 PLA warplanes - two H-6 bombers, eight J-16 fighter jets, four J-11 and four J-10 planes - were involved in the drills.