US Approves $571 Million in Defense Assistance for Taiwan Amid Rising Tensions with China
US President Joe Biden has approved a significant $571.3 million defense assistance package for Taiwan, the White House announced on Friday.
This move comes as Biden prepares to leave office before the January inauguration of Donald Trump. While the United States does not officially recognize Taiwan diplomatically, it remains a strategic ally and the island’s largest supplier of weapons.
The military aid package, which includes defense articles, services, and military education and training, was authorized despite increasing political and military pressure from China, which views Taiwan as part of its territory. Beijing has persistently called for Washington to cease its support for Taiwan, including sending arms and assistance, as it escalates its efforts to assert control over the self-ruled island.
Taiwanese officials reported that China held its largest maritime drills in years last week, involving around 90 ships, which were deployed from near the southern islands of Japan to the South China Sea. Although China did not confirm the exercises, the display of military strength highlights the growing tensions in the region.
The White House, in a brief statement, confirmed the authorization of the defense assistance package but did not provide specific details. This move comes less than three months after a similar $567 million package was approved. Earlier this week, Taiwan also received 38 advanced Abrams battle tanks from the United States—its first new tanks in three decades.
Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense expressed gratitude toward the United States for its “firm security commitment,” reaffirming their ongoing cooperation to maintain peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. The ministry, however, declined to comment on the specific contents of the assistance due to the tacit agreement between the two nations.
Meanwhile, Beijing has continued its strong opposition to international support for Taiwan, accusing Washington of interfering in its internal matters. China has maintained a near-daily presence of fighter jets, drones, and warships around the island and has repeatedly declared its intention to never renounce the use of force to reunify Taiwan with the mainland. The Chinese government has also ramped up its rhetoric about the “inevitable” unification of Taiwan under its control.
A recent Pentagon report highlighted China’s increased diplomatic, political, and military pressure on Taiwan in 2023, underscoring the escalating tension in the region.
