The Pentagon announced late Thursday that the U.S. has approved a $330 million sale of fighter jet parts to Taiwan, marking the first such arms transaction since President Donald Trump took office in January.

“The proposed sale will improve the recipient’s capability to meet current and future threats by maintaining the operational readiness of the recipient’s fleet of F-16, C-130,” and other aircraft, the Pentagon said in a statement.

Washington has formal diplomatic ties with Beijing, but maintains unofficial ties with Taiwan and is the island’s most important arms supplier. The United States is bound by law to provide Taiwan with the means to defend itself.

Taiwan’s defense ministry said in a statement that it expected the sales to “take effect” within one month.

“The United States

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