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US Approves $385 Million Arms Sale to Taiwan Amid Rising Tensions with China
The United States has approved $385 million in arms sales to Taiwan, including spare parts for F-16 fighter jets, radar systems, and tactical communications equipment, according to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA).
The $320 million package for F-16s and radar systems is expected to enhance Taiwan’s defense capabilities, with deliveries starting in 2025.
A separate $65 million deal includes support for a tactical communications system. Both sales were approved by the State Department and notified to Congress.
Despite no formal diplomatic ties, the US remains Taiwan’s largest arms supplier.
Taiwan’s defense ministry expressed gratitude, highlighting the boost to its air defense and combat readiness. This marks the 18th arms deal to Taiwan under President Joe Biden’s administration.
China, which considers Taiwan its territory, condemned the sale. Meanwhile, Taiwan reported increased Chinese military activity near the island, detecting aircraft, naval vessels, and balloons within 24 hours. The developments underscore growing tensions in the Taiwan Strait.
TV anchor Rufai Oseni makes headlines as he speaks on fuel subsidy in Nigeria. He shared that Nigeria can have fuel subsidy without the long queues at filling stations.
“When we were still paying subsidies, there were no long queues. We were subsidising. So you can still have a subsidy regime going on, and there will be no long queues because production was close by. Dangote had it. That’s just it. That argument also falls flat.
“The biggest beneficiaries of subsidy are not Nigerians. They are crony capitalists that have big infrastructure, and they do contracts. They have been the biggest beneficiaries of the subsidy,” he said.
Lagos State Governor, Sanwo-Olu, speaks to those in the electricity sector about the usual blackouts in the state.
He speaks on ways things can change in the state and how electricity can be provided.
“We need to drop corporate egos, abandon long-standing excuses, and confront the harsh realities obstructing progress in the power sector.”
“We, state governments, used to give excuses that everything is centralised, so the Federal Government has unbundled it now. What have we done in a year and a half?” Sanwo-Olu asked.
“We take two steps forward, we go five steps backward,” he said.
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has declared Thursday, August 20, a work-free day for public servants in the state to mark the Isese Festival.
Speaking on the celebration, he said “Ìṣẹ̀ṣe is not a relic. It is a living expression of our traditions and a celebration of Yoruba spirituality as an important part of Nigeria’s cultural and religious landscape,” he said.
He added “When the drums sound in Lagos on Thursday, they answer drums in Havana, in Salvador, in Port of Spain. Fifty-five million people and counting. Lagos is not observing a local holiday. Lagos is standing at the centre of a global heritage,” Aregbe said.
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