- US Approves First Direct Military Aid to Taiwan
- Enraging China and Reaffirming US Support
- Congressional Approval Expected for Taiwan’s Defense Assistance
The administration of US President Joe Biden has for the first time approved direct US military aid to Taiwan under a program aimed at foreign governments, officials said on Wednesday, as concerns about China increase.
Tuesday, the State Department informed Congress of the $80 million package, which is relatively modest compared to recent sales to Taiwan but represents the first assistance to Taiwan under the Foreign Military Financing program, which generally provides grants or loans to sovereign nations.
The action is certain to enrage China. The United States has officially recognized only Beijing for the past 50 years, even though the Taiwan Relations Act mandates the supply of armaments to the self-governing democracy for its defense.
Successive US administrations have accomplished this through sales rather than direct aid to Taiwan, with official statements adopting the tone of commercial transactions with Taiwan’s de facto embassy in Washington.
The State Department insisted that the program’s inaugural assistance did not constitute recognition of Taiwan’s sovereignty.
A State Department spokesperson stated, “Consistent with the Taiwan Relations Act and our longstanding One China policy, which has not changed, the United States makes available to Taiwan the defense articles and services necessary for it to maintain an adequate self-defense capability.”
The United States has a long-standing interest in peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, which is essential for regional and global security and prosperity.
The defense ministry of Taiwan expressed gratitude. The aid will contribute to regional peace and stability, the statement said.
The State Department did not formally proclaim the assistance or provide details, but a source with knowledge of the notice stated that the assistance would include support to enhance maritime awareness.
Increasing conflicts
The assistance requires approval from Congress, which is virtually assured given the widespread support for Taiwan among legislators of both parties.
Republican chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and frequent critic of Biden’s foreign policy, Representative Mike McCaul, lauded the move.
“These weapons will not only help Taiwan and protect other democracies in the region, but they will also strengthen US deterrence posture and ensure our national security from an increasingly aggressive CCP,” he said, referring to the Chinese Communist Party.
In recent months, China and the United States have resumed dialogue to stabilize the tumultuous relationship between the world’s largest developed and developing nations.
However, Taiwan continues to be a source of tension, with Chinese officials issuing repeated warnings and viewing the United States as determined to support Taiwan’s formal independence.
China has conducted three large-scale military exercises in a little over a year in response to Taiwanese leaders’ interactions with the United States, raising the possibility that it is practicing invasion maneuvers.
Senior US officials have stated that they believe Chinese President Xi Jinping is moving away from the status quo in Taiwan, while American analysts debate the extent to which China’s recent economic woes and Russia’s efforts to subdue Ukraine will deter Beijing.
The Biden administration has broken new ground in support of Taiwan for the second time in as many months.
In July, Biden also authorized $345 million in military aid to Taiwan from unused US stockpiles, drawing a cue from one method of US assistance to Ukraine as it fights a Russian invasion.
Israel is the leading recipient of Foreign Military Financing, receiving over $3 billion annually.
