The Biden administration has decided for the first time to bolster Taiwan’s self-defense through a State Department program that’s typically used to assist sovereign nations.
The State Department notified Congress of a military transfer on Aug. 30, a package of $80 million of military equipment via its Foreign Military Financing (FMF) program.
“FMF will be used to strengthen Taiwan’s self-defense capabilities through joint and combined defense capability and enhanced maritime domain awareness and maritime security capability,” the department stated.
The notification was first reported by The Associated Press.
A State Department spokesperson confirmed the first such military transfer to The Epoch Times. Previous arms sales to Taiwan have been approved under other authorities that don’t necessarily imply statehood.
“The United States has provided Foreign Military Sales (FMS) to Taiwan for years,“ the spokesperson said in a statement. ”FMF simply enables eligible partner nations to purchase U.S. defense articles, services, and training through either FMS or, for a limited number of countries, through the foreign military financing of direct commercial contracts (FMF/DCC) program.”
The spokesperson noted that the latest military aid “does not reflect any change in the U.S. one-China policy.”
“We do not support Taiwan independence,” the spokesperson said. “Consistent with the Taiwan Relations Act, the United States makes available to Taiwan defense articles and services necessary to enable it to maintain a sufficient self-defense capability.”
The United States has had no formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan since Washington changed its diplomatic recognition in favor of Beijing in 1979. However, the two sides have a robust relationship based on the Taiwan Relations Act, a law that authorizes the United States to provide the island with military equipment for self-defense.
Taiwan
Unsurprisingly, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has reacted to the U.S. military aid with hawkish rhetoric. Wu Qian, spokesperson for China’s Defense Ministry, told reporters on Aug. 31 that the Chinese military will take necessary measures to “resolutely counter it.”Taiwan, a self-ruled island that faces constant coercion and military threats from its communist neighbor, welcomed the military transfer. In a statement, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense thanked the U.S. government and stated that its decision will “contribute to regional peace and stability.”
The African Union is the only other non-nation-state that has received military aid under FMF, according to U.S. officials.
It’s unclear what military equipment or systems would be paid for under the FMF.
However, according to the notification, items could include air and coastal defense systems, armored vehicles, infantry fighting vehicles, drones, ballistic missile and cyber defenses, and advanced communications equipment. Other potential items include protective gear; an array of small, medium, and heavy weapons systems; ammunition; and armored and infantry fighting vehicles.
Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas), chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, hailed the Biden administration’s inaugural FMF for Taiwan.
“I am glad the administration is further implementing our bipartisan Taiwan Enhanced Resilience Act by finally providing FMF to Taiwan,” Mr. McCaul said in a statement. “These weapons will not only help Taiwan and protect other democracies in the region, but also strengthen the U.S. deterrence posture and ensure our national security from an increasingly aggressive CCP.”
“Amid #China’s widespread cognitive warfare, disinformation campaigns & the resulting global tensions, we commend efforts to unveil the malevolent behavior of the world’s largest online covert influence operation,” the ministry wrote. “#Taiwan stands ready to safeguard truth & stability.”
