U.S. approves Taiwan military transfer under program used for sovereign states – National | 24CA News
U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration has accepted a army switch to Taiwan underneath the Foreign Military Financing, or FMF, program usually used for sovereign states, in response to a notification despatched to Congress.
The notification, which was seen by Reuters on Wednesday, informs congressional committees of the State Department’s intention to obligate as much as $80 million in FMF funds in assist of Taiwan.
“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 notification mentioned.
The Taiwan notification was first reported by the Associated Press.
Representative Michael McCaul, Republican chairman of the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee, mentioned he was glad the administration was “finally” offering FMF to Taiwan.
“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 (Chinese Communist Party),” McCaul mentioned in a press release.
FMF, the most important army help account managed by the State Department, supplies primarily grant help to international governments for the acquisition of U.S. protection gear and army coaching underneath the Foreign Military Sales program.
A State Department official confirmed the notification to Congress and mentioned the choice to offer Taiwan with the FMF help didn’t mirror any change in U.S. coverage.
The transfer is nonetheless anticipated to lift the ire of Beijing.
Beijing claims the democratically ruled island as its personal territory, and warns towards any types of “official exchanges” between Washington and Taipei. Taiwan rejects China’s sovereignty claims and says solely Taiwan’s folks can resolve their future.
China has complained beforehand to the United States about army support to the island. Its protection ministry has mentioned the U.S. army should cease all types of “military collusion” with the island.
The United States, Taiwan’s most necessary arms provider, final month introduced a Taiwan weapons support package deal price as much as $345 million.
(Reporting by Patricia Zengerle in Washington; Editing by Matthew Lewis)
