Biden Approves $571.3 Million Defense Package for Taiwan Amid Rising Tensions with China
The White House announced on Friday that President Joe Biden has approved a defense assistance package for Taiwan amounting to $571.3 million. This decision comes as Biden prepares to leave office prior to the January inauguration of Donald Trump. While the United States does not officially recognize Taiwan as a sovereign state, it is the island’s key strategic ally and primary supplier of military equipment.
In recent years, China has intensified its political and military pressure on Taiwan, criticizing Washington for its continued arms support for the self-governing island, which Beijing claims as part of its territory. Taiwanese officials reported that China conducted its largest maritime exercises in years last week, deploying approximately 90 vessels from the southern islands of Japan to the South China Sea, although Beijing has not confirmed the drills.
In a brief statement, the White House confirmed that the defense assistance package includes a drawdown of “up to $571.3 million in defense articles and services from the Department of Defense, along with military education and training to enhance Taiwan’s military capabilities.” The announcement follows a similar package of $567 million authorized just three months earlier. Recently, Taiwan received 38 advanced Abrams battle tanks from the U.S., marking the first shipment of new tanks to the island in three decades.
The Taiwanese Ministry of National Defense expressed gratitude to the United States for its “firm security commitment to Taiwan,” indicating that both nations will continue to collaborate closely on security matters to maintain peace, stability, and the status quo across the Taiwan Strait. The ministry chose not to comment on the details of the assistance package, citing a tacit agreement with the U.S.
China has consistently voiced strong opposition to international support for Taiwan and has accused the U.S. of interfering in its internal affairs. The Chinese military has maintained a near-constant presence of fighter jets, drones, and warships around Taiwan, declaring that it will not rule out using force to assert control over the island. Furthermore, Beijing has escalated its rhetoric about the inevitability of “unification” with Taiwan. A recent report by the U.S. Pentagon highlighted that in 2023, China has significantly increased its diplomatic, political, and military pressure against Taiwan.
Join our Channel...