Taiwan parliament approves major arms deal with US

Taiwan's parliament on Friday approved four weapons deals with the US, giving the government the green light to approve the deal worth roughly $9 billion (roughly €7.86 billion). The arms packages are part of an $11 billion arms deal announced by Washington in December.

Taiwan's reluctance to increase defense spending has raised concerns in Washington. The US remains the Chinese-claimed island's most important international backer and arms supplier. The weapons include TOW anti-tank missiles, M109A7 self-propelled howitzers, Lockheed Martin-made Javelin missiles and
HIMARS multiple launch rocket systems. 

"This body ​upholds the principle of placing national security first and firmly defending territorial integrity," parliament speaker Han Kuo-yu said, reading the resolution, which passed unanimously.

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