Joe Biden Announces $345M Military Aid Package for Taiwan

The Hill reported that Joe Biden, the President of the United States has announced a military support worth 345 million USD for Taiwan. Joe Biden used the authority of the US Congress. Congress buys weapons from the American stockpiles directly.

The weapons will be sent to Taiwan on Friday. The shipment has been authorized by the US president concerning the usage of PDA or Presidential Drawdown Authority that was granted in 2022.

The inventory of missiles including surveillance capabilities, intelligence, missiles, weapons, MANPADS, or man-portable air defense systems is being sent to Taiwan, as reported by The Hill. The data is given by a congressional employee who is well-versed in the contents of the package.

The announcement was made public for the first time as directing the withdrawal of “defense articles and services of the Department of Defence, and military education and training, to assist Taiwan” as a memorandum to the secretary of state.

According to the White House, the memorandum reads, “By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including section 621 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (FAA), I hereby delegate to the Secretary of State the authority under section 506(a)(3) of the FAA to direct the drawdown of up to $345 million in defense articles and services of the Department of Defense, and military education and training, to assist Taiwan.”

China and Taiwan Relations

China sees Taiwan, the island country which currently has a democratically elected government as well, as an integral part of it. Xi Jinping, President of China has announced that he wants Taipei to be united with Beijing. The US budget of 2023 announced weapon shipments of 1 billion USD to Taiwan.

The US Congress has given orders to the administration to reduce the bottleneck and complete the backlog transfers of military weapons to the island country, Taiwan. As per the Hill, the US government is encouraging Taiwan to possess diplomatic power and defensive capabilities. Possession of the capabilities and power will let Taiwan oppose the economic pressure or military war by Beijing.