The US State Department on Tuesday approved the sale of 66 F-16 fighters to Taiwan, Online Cigarettes Store USA in a move expected to anger Beijing.
Taiwan will get the latest version of the Lockheed Martin-built fighter, the F-16C/D Block 70, in the $8 billion deal, the State Department said.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement Newport Cigarettes Shop that President Donald Trump had green-lighted the proposed sale after Congress was notified last week.
The F-16s "are deeply consistent with the arrangements, the historical relationship between the United States and China," Pompeo said.
"Our actions are consistent with past US policy. We are simply following through on the commitments we've made to all of the parties."
Taiwan's plan to upgrade its air defenses comes amid increasing Chinese military incursions into its air space.
A spokesman for the Taiwanese president released a statement saying the jets would "substantially enhance Cheap Newport 100s cigarettes our air defense capabilities to help Taiwan's self-defense and maintain the people's freedom and welfare."