News - Middle East: The US has approved a $120 million sale of naval equipment to Taiwan to boost the self-ruled island's "combat readiness" amid heightened tensions with China.  

The equipment would help Taiwan's ships "maintain proper equipment... and meet the practical needs of combat readiness tasks in light of recent frequent activities by Chinese aircraft and warships around our sea and air," Taipei's defense ministry said in a statement on Thursday.

The ministry further said the deal demonstrated that the US had attached great importance to enhancing what it called Taiwan's self-defense capability, adding that it also showed Washington’s continued policy of normalizing arms sales to the self-governed island.

According to Taipei, the deal is expected to take effect in one month.