Biden authorizes $571 million in military assistance for Taiwan

U.S. President Joe Biden announced on Friday that the administration will allocate $571.3 million in defense assistance to Taiwan, as stated by the White House. Additionally, the State Department has authorized a potential sale of military equipment valued at $265 million to the island.

Despite the absence of formal diplomatic relations between Washington and Taipei, U.S. law mandates that Taiwan, which is claimed by China, must be equipped to defend itself, a situation that continues to provoke Beijing’s ire.

Taiwan, governed by a democratic system, firmly disputes China’s assertions of sovereignty over the island. In recent months, China has intensified its military activities in the region, conducting daily operations near Taiwan and holding two significant military exercises this year. Last week, Taiwan heightened its alert status in response to what it described as the largest concentration of Chinese naval forces in thirty years surrounding the island and in the East and South China Seas.

The White House indicated that President Biden has authorized the Secretary of State to oversee the drawdown of up to $571.3 million in defense articles and services from the Department of Defense, along with military education and training to support Taiwan, although specific details were not disclosed.

Taiwan’s defense ministry expressed gratitude to the United States for its “strong security guarantee,” emphasizing that both parties will continue to collaborate closely on security matters to maintain peace in the Taiwan Strait. The Pentagon confirmed that the State Department has approved the potential sale of approximately $265 million in command, control, communications, and computer modernization equipment to Taiwan, which the defense ministry stated would enhance its command-and-control capabilities.

Taiwan’s defense ministry announced on Saturday that the U.S. government has authorized $30 million for components related to the 76 mm autocannon, which is expected to enhance the island’s ability to address China’s “grey-zone” warfare tactics.