The US State Department has approved a deal to potentially supply up to $108 million in military assistance to Taiwan, according to a Pentagon Statement on Friday.
Taiwan has complained of increased military threats such as flyovers from Beijing, as the two nations walk a fine line between Taiwan openly declaring full independence, and Beijing forcefully reunifying with the island.
As part of that ambiguity, the United States has recognized only unofficial relations with Taipei. However Washington is required under US law to supply Taiwan with the means of self-defense, and President Joe Biden has promised to increase support for the island.
The latest support will consist of spare and repair parts for combat vehicles and tanks, as well as technical and logistical support from both the US Government and defense contractors, all of which Taiwan has officially requested. There is no information yet on what defense contractors will receive the contracts.
In a statement, the Pentagon’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency said, “The proposed sale will contribute to the sustainment of the recipient’s vehicles, small arms, combat weapon systems, and logistical support items, enhancing its ability to meet current and future threats.”
The statement added, “In the face of the expanding military threat of the Chinese Communists, properly maintaining equipment is as important as newly purchased weapons and equipment.”
It said the support would serve to increase interoperability between the military of Taiwan and the United States and other allies. It noted the Taiwanese military would have no issues in absorbing the equipment and support.
Taiwan said it expected the deal to “become effective” within a month, though the information released thus far does not specifically confirm a contract has been signed, or negotiations have officially concluded.
To date, through several US administrations, the US has advocated to make Taiwan into a “porcupine,” through the absorption of various military technologies designed to perform asymmetric warfare, that would make any Chinese invasion and occupation more costly for the invader than any benefit they would gain from completing the invasion.
Some groups however have criticized the Biden administration’s sales polices with regard to Taiwan as too restrictive, and not well designed to confront the challenges posed by the Chinese military forces.
U.S.-Taiwan Business Council President Rupert Hammond-Chambers issued a statement supportive of the news of the new deal, but lamenting that it merely sustained Taiwan and resupplied munitions, which indicated a broader force-modernization of the Taiwanese military, “is no longer a priority.”
