State Department notifies Congress of $8 billion F-16 sale to Taiwan

The State Department notified Congress today of a potential $8 billion sale of F-16 fighter jets to Taiwan, according to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency.

Taiwan's approved request includes 66 F-16 Block C/D aircraft, as well as associated equipment and bombs, the DSCA said in a statement released today. The prime contractor on the deal is Lockheed Martin.

The formal notification comes days after news of the sale's approval first appeared in press reports. Chinese officials have denounced the arms transfer and argue it is a violation of the "One China" policy.

A State Department spokesman pointed to comments made Aug. 19 by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo regarding the F-16 sale in a Fox News interview.

"These are deeply consistent with the arrangements, the historical relationship between the United States and China, the three communiques that layer on top of that," Pompeo said. "Our actions are consistent with past U.S. policy. We are simply following through on the commitments we've made to all of the parties."

Lawmakers have largely expressed support for the sale. House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Elliot Engel (D-NY) and Ranking Member Michael McCaul (R-TX) released a joint statement Aug. 16 praising the sale.

"The sale of F-16s to Taiwan sends a strong message about the U.S. commitment to security and democracy in the Indo-Pacific," they said. "We are pleased the administration is moving forward with this sale and have every confidence that it will be supported on a bipartisan and bicameral basis."