United States Unveils $345 Million Taiwan Weapons Aid Package Amidst Tensions with China

 

Photo:abcnews.go.com

WASHINGTON - In a move that is likely to add to the existing tensions with China, the United States announced on Friday a substantial weapons aid package worth up to $345 million for Taiwan. However, the Biden administration refrained from revealing specific details about the arms included in the package.

 

As part of the 2023 budget, Congress authorized up to $1 billion for the Presidential Drawdown Authority weapons aid to Taiwan. The island nation vehemently rejects Chinese sovereignty claims, making this aid package all the more crucial for its defense. Nevertheless, Beijing has consistently demanded that the United States, Taiwan's most significant arms supplier, stop selling weapons to the island.

 

While Reuters reported that the package was expected to contain four unarmed MQ-9A reconnaissance drones, officials are still working on removing some advanced equipment from the drones, which only the U.S. Air Force has access to. Therefore, the inclusion of the drones remains uncertain. The formal announcement did not disclose a comprehensive list of the weapon systems provided.

 

The Taiwan defense ministry expressed its gratitude to the U.S. for its unwavering security commitment. In a statement, the ministry refrained from commenting on the specific package details, citing a "tacit agreement" between the two sides. One of the potential challenges in including the drones in the package is determining who would bear the cost of their alterations.

 

Taiwan had previously agreed to purchase four MQ-9B SeaGuardian drones from General Atomics, which are more advanced and slated for delivery in 2025.

 

China regards democratically governed Taiwan as part of its territory and has escalated military pressure on the island over the past few years. Beijing has never renounced the use of force to bring the island under its control, but Taiwan firmly rejects China's sovereignty claims, asserting that only the Taiwanese people have the right to decide their future.

 

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin foreshadowed the impending aid when he informed a Senate panel on May 16 that significant additional security assistance would soon be provided to Taiwan through the authorized Presidential Drawdown Authority.

 

Earlier this month, the top U.S. general emphasized the need for the United States and its allies to expedite the delivery of weapons to Taiwan in the coming years to bolster the island's defense.

 

It's essential to note that the Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA) has previously been used on an emergency basis to expedite security assistance to Ukraine, allowing the president to transfer articles and services from U.S. stockpiles. However, the Taiwan PDA was non-emergency authority approved by Congress last year, signifying its strategic importance in supporting Taiwan's security and sovereignty.

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