The US House of Representatives on Friday approved an appropriations bill for fiscal year 2025 that includes US$500 million in military aid for Taiwan.
The legislation, which authorizes funding for the US Department of State, US foreign operations and related programs for next year, passed 212-200 in the Republican-led House.
The bill stipulates that the US would provide no less than US$500 million in foreign military financing for Taiwan to enhance deterrence across the Taiwan Strait, and offer Taipei up to US$2 billion in loans and loan guarantees for the same purpose.
Photo: AFP
The funding would be made available under the US’ Foreign Military Financing Program, which enables its partners to purchase US defense articles, services and training, according to the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency.
In addition, the US secretary of state, in coordination with the US secretary of defense, are required to prioritize the delivery of defense articles and services for Taiwan, the bill says.
The provisions are in line with the Taiwan Enhanced Resilience Act, which was consolidated into the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act.
Under the Taiwan Enhanced Resilience Act, the US would provide up to US$10 billion in foreign military financing for Taiwan over five years from last year to 2027.
Apart from military financing, the appropriations bill states that no funding should be used to “create, procure or display any map that inaccurately depicts the territory and social and economic system of Taiwan and the islands or island groups administered by Taiwan authorities.”
It also authorizes at least US$4 million in funding for the Global Cooperation and Training Framework — a cooperation initiative established by the US and Taiwan in 2015 — under the “Economic Support Fund.”
The State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs Appropriations Act provides a total discretionary allocation of US$51.7 billion, about 11 percent, or US$7.6 billion, less than the fiscal year 2024 enacted level, the US House Committee on Appropriations said in a news release.
Under the bill, the US would also allocate US$400 million to curb the influence of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and entities acting on its behalf through the Countering PRC Influence Fund.
Following the House’s approval of the bill, the US Senate, in which the Democratic Party holds a majority, is expected to introduce and vote on its version of the bill.
After the Senate passes its version, the two chambers would need to work out the differences in their bills before submitting a finalized version for the president to sign into law.
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