“US Approves First Direct Military Aid to Taiwan Under Foreign Military Financing Program”
As part of the Foreign Military Financing (FMF) program, the Biden administration approved the First direct military aid to Taiwan, a move certain to anger China.
“The US has approved $80 million in arms sales to Taiwan today, August 31, 2023.”
The United States has approved the first direct military aid to Taiwan under the Foreign Military Financing (FMF) program in the history of the program.
The $80 million package includes a variety of weapons and equipment, including Harpoon anti-ship missiles, Stinger anti-aircraft missiles, and armored vehicles. The aid is intended to help Taiwan defend itself against a potential Chinese attack.
The FMF program is typically used to provide military aid to sovereign countries, but this is the first time it has been used to provide aid to Taiwan.
The move is a sign of the Biden administration’s commitment to Taiwan’s defense, and it comes as tensions between the United States and China are rising.
The Chinese claim Taiwan as their territory and have threatened to use force to control it. According to United States policy, Taiwan is a “strategic ambiguity,” which means the country hasn’t explicitly indicated whether or not it would defend the island from attack by China.
There has been much public discussion about Taiwan’s ability to defend itself, and the Biden administration has been very clear about its intention to help. In a recent speech, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that the United States would “continue to provide Taiwan with the military assistance it needs to maintain a credible self-defense capability.”
A significant step has been taken in that direction with the approval of the FMF package. By demonstrating a willingness to provide Taiwan with defense means, the United States makes a clear statement to China.
Using the term ‘serious violation of sovereignty’, the Chinese government condemned the US decision. However, the US has said that the aid is necessary to help Taiwan defend itself and that it does not change the US’s “one China” policy.
The approval of the FMF package is a sign of the growing US-China rivalry. As tensions between the two countries rise, it is likely that the United States will continue to provide Taiwan with military aid in order to deter a Chinese attack.
In addition to the FMF package, the Biden administration has also approved the sale of $750 million worth of arms to Taiwan, including Harpoon missiles, Stinger missiles, and armored vehicles. Since 2019, this sale has been Taiwan’s largest ever.
Biden’s administration is committed to helping Taiwan defend itself despite China’s anger over US arms sales to Taiwan.
The approval of the FMF package and the arms sale are a sign of the growing US-China rivalry, and it is likely that the two countries will continue to compete for influence in the region.
Background
The background of the US’s approval of $80 million in arms sales to Taiwan today is the growing US-China rivalry.
In addition to the FMF package, the Biden administration has also approved the sale of $750 million worth of arms to Taiwan, including Harpoon missiles, Stinger missiles, and armored vehicles. This is the largest arms sale to Taiwan since 2019.
The US arms sales to Taiwan are likely to further anger China, but the Biden administration has made it clear that it is committed to helping Taiwan defend itself. The approval of the FMF package and the arms sale are a sign of the growing US-China rivalry, and it is likely that the two countries will continue to compete for influence in the region.
Here are some other recent developments that have contributed to the background of this news:
- In March 2023, China conducted a series of military exercises near Taiwan, which was seen as a show of force.
- In April 2023, the US House of Representatives passed a bill that would require the US to provide Taiwan with $2.2 billion in military aid over the next five years.
- In July 2023, the US and Taiwan held their first high-level talks in five years.
These developments have all raised tensions between the United States and China, and the approval of the FMF package is likely to further escalate those tensions.
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