US President Joe Biden on Friday agreed to provide US$571.3 million in defense support for Taiwan, the White House said, while the US State Department approved the potential sale of US$265 million in military equipment.
Biden had delegated to the secretary of state the authority “to direct the drawdown of up to US$571.3 million in defense articles and services of the Department of Defense, and military education and training, to provide assistance to Taiwan,” the White House said in a statement.
However, it did not provide specific details about this latest package, which was the third of its kind to Taiwan after the US$567 million and US$345 million in aid packages announced on Sept. 30 and on July 28 last year respectively.
Photo: AP
The US is bound by law to provide Taiwan with the means to defend itself despite the lack of formal diplomatic ties between Washington and Taipei.
China has stepped up military pressure against Taiwan, including daily military activities near the nation and two rounds of war games this year.
Separately, the Pentagon said the US State Department had approved the potential sale to Taiwan of about US$265 million in command, control, communications and computer modernization equipment.
In a news release, the Pentagon’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said it delivered the required certification, notifying the US Congress of the latest arms sale on Friday.
The proposed arm sale includes the MIDS JTRS Variant 5, an enhancement to the Link-16 tactical data link system, for an estimated cost of US$265 million, the DSCA said.
The system would enhance Taiwan’s “communications and network security for its command, control, communications, and computers capabilities,” it said.
Among the items were MK 75-76mm gun mounts and related equipment for an estimated cost of US$30 million, the DSCA said in another news release.
The gun mounts would improve Taiwan’s “capability to meet current and future threats by providing surface and air defenses onboard various ships in inventory,” it added.
In Taipei, the Ministry of National Defense yesterday thanked the US for “its firm security commitment to Taiwan.”
“Taiwan and the United States will continue to cooperate closely on security issues to maintain peace, stability and the status quo across the Taiwan Strait,” the ministry said it a statement.
It said it would not comment on the “content” of the assistance “based on the tacit agreement between Taiwan and the United States.”
The US continues to implement its policy of “normalizing” arms sales to Taiwan and is fulfilling its steadfast commitment and support for helping to enhance Taiwan’s self-defense capabilities and resilience, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.
Additional reporting by AFP and CNA
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