WASHINGTON – US President Joe Biden’s administration has authorized a navy switch to Taiwan underneath the Foreign Military Financing, or FMF, program usually used for sovereign states, based on 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 an announcement.
FMF, the biggest navy help account managed by the State Department, supplies primarily grant help to international governments for the acquisition of U.S. protection gear and navy 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 in opposition to 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 navy support to the island. Its protection ministry has mentioned the U.S. navy should cease all types of “military collusion” with the island.
The United States, Taiwan’s most essential arms provider, final month introduced a Taiwan weapons support package deal price as much as $345 million. — Reuters
Source: www.gmanetwork.com
