Biden Approves Additional Arms for Taiwan
US President Joe Biden has approved $567 million in military assistance for Taiwan, coinciding with the recent transfer of American anti-ship missiles. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
**Beijing views weapons shipments to self-governing Taiwan as provocative and escalatory**
US President Joe Biden has approved additional military support for Taiwan amounting to $567 million, just days after the arrival of US-made Harpoon anti-ship missiles on the self-governing island.
According to a memorandum from the White House, this drawdown will cover military equipment, education, and training provided by the Pentagon to Taipei. In April, a multibillion-dollar foreign security assistance package was approved by the US Congress, benefitting primarily Israel, Ukraine, and Taiwan.
Reports indicate that last Friday, the first batch of hundreds of Harpoon Block II anti-ship missiles, approved for sale by Washington in 2020, arrived at Kaohsiung Port in Taiwan.
The US plans to send up to 400 missiles along with 100 launcher transport units, 25 radar trucks, and additional equipment, totaling 100 sets of the RGM-84L-4 coastal defense missile system. These supplies will be delivered in two phases, set to be completed by 2026 and 2028. According to a procurement notice issued earlier this year, Taiwan’s military will establish multiple new bases to accommodate the American weapons.
Beijing, which asserts its sovereignty over Taiwan, characterizes the provision of weapons as a major destabilizing factor in cross-strait relations. Historically, Taiwan served as the last refuge for nationalist forces during China’s 1940s civil war and relies on American security assurances and aid for its defense.
The Chinese government has articulated a goal of peaceful reunification but has also indicated the willingness to employ force if Taipei attempts to formally declare independence. Beijing has claimed that certain factions in Washington are encouraging Taiwanese officials toward such an escalation.
In related developments, Biden last week ordered nearly $8 billion in military aid for Ukraine, utilizing funds that Congress approved for spending before the month’s end. The White House had sought an extension of presidential authority to access these funds but ultimately chose to use the reserves before the deadline.
Thomas Evans contributed to this report for TROIB News
US President Joe Biden has approved additional military support for Taiwan amounting to $567 million, just days after the arrival of US-made Harpoon anti-ship missiles on the self-governing island.
According to a memorandum from the White House, this drawdown will cover military equipment, education, and training provided by the Pentagon to Taipei. In April, a multibillion-dollar foreign security assistance package was approved by the US Congress, benefitting primarily Israel, Ukraine, and Taiwan.
Reports indicate that last Friday, the first batch of hundreds of Harpoon Block II anti-ship missiles, approved for sale by Washington in 2020, arrived at Kaohsiung Port in Taiwan.
The US plans to send up to 400 missiles along with 100 launcher transport units, 25 radar trucks, and additional equipment, totaling 100 sets of the RGM-84L-4 coastal defense missile system. These supplies will be delivered in two phases, set to be completed by 2026 and 2028. According to a procurement notice issued earlier this year, Taiwan’s military will establish multiple new bases to accommodate the American weapons.
Beijing, which asserts its sovereignty over Taiwan, characterizes the provision of weapons as a major destabilizing factor in cross-strait relations. Historically, Taiwan served as the last refuge for nationalist forces during China’s 1940s civil war and relies on American security assurances and aid for its defense.
The Chinese government has articulated a goal of peaceful reunification but has also indicated the willingness to employ force if Taipei attempts to formally declare independence. Beijing has claimed that certain factions in Washington are encouraging Taiwanese officials toward such an escalation.
In related developments, Biden last week ordered nearly $8 billion in military aid for Ukraine, utilizing funds that Congress approved for spending before the month’s end. The White House had sought an extension of presidential authority to access these funds but ultimately chose to use the reserves before the deadline.
Thomas Evans contributed to this report for TROIB News
