A Taiwan air force C-130 Hercules parks at Hsinchu Air Base, Taiwan, Jan. 11, 2022. (Seth Robson/Stars and Stripes)

The State Department has backed a $330 million military equipment sale to Taiwan, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency announced Thursday.

The agency, which assists with arms transfers to U.S. allies, has notified Congress of the possible sale, according to a statement posted on the agency’s website.

Taiwan’s de facto embassy in the United States — the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office — has asked to buy components, spare parts and accessories for F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter jets, C-130 Hercules transport planes and aircraft made in Taiwan, according to the statement.

Taiwan has also requested U.S. government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support, the statement said.

The island democracy’s air force routinely scrambles in response to Chinese military aircraft entering its air defense identification zone.

Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense reported 21 sorties by Chinese aircraft and three Chinese naval vessels around Taiwan before 6 a.m. Friday, according to a ministry post on X that day.

“We have monitored the situation and responded,” the ministry posted.

The ministry issued a statement that day thanking the United States for helping Taiwan defend itself, according to the Focus Taiwan website.

The sale will help Taiwan’s air force maintain readiness while boosting the country’s ability to respond to China’s gray-zone coercion, the ministry said.

The approval of the latest arms sale is the first during President Donald Trump’s second term.

A $228 million sale to Taiwan of spare aircraft parts and related military equipment was announced by both countries in September 2024. Also that month, then-President Joe Biden authorized more than a half-billion dollars in extra military assistance for Taiwan.