US Approves 1st Military Aid to Taiwan Through Program Usually Reserved for Sovereign Nations

The Biden administration has decided for the first time to bolster Taiwan’s self-defense through a State Department program that is typically used to assist sovereign nations.

Taiwanese sailors salute the island's flag on the deck of the Panshih supply ship after taking part in annual drills at the Tsoying naval base in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, on Jan. 31, 2018. Mandy Cheng/AFP via Getty Images

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.