The United States on Friday announced a new round of arms sales to Taiwan worth a total of $1.1 billion, as tensions with China, which claims the island as part of its territory, reached a record high, AFP reported.

The new arms sale comes a month after a visit to Taiwan by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi that angered Beijing. Then China began the largest military maneuvers in its history around the island.

The US government approved the sale to Taipei of 60 Harpoon missiles capable of sinking warships worth $355 million, 100 short-range Sidewinder missiles ($85.6 million) capable of intercepting missiles or drones, and a contract for maintenance of Taiwan’s radar system worth $665 million. it is stated in the statement of the State Department.

The agreements “serve the economic and national security interests of the United States by supporting (Taiwan’s) efforts to modernize its military,” the US State Department said through a spokesman.

The United States has notified Congress of more than $35 billion in arms sales to Taiwan since 2010, according to a State Department spokesman who approved the deals.

The sale must be approved by Congress, which is almost certain to happen because military support for Taiwan enjoys widespread support among elected officials on both sides of the aisle.

Arms sales are “critical to Taiwan’s security, and we will continue to work with the defense industry to support this goal,” the State Department spokesman added.