WASHINGTON – The United States announced the approval of a military aid package for Taiwan in the amount of $345 million dollars. According to what was announced by a Pentagon spokesman, this Friday, July 28, the support is intended to quickly strengthen the island’s ability to deter a possible invasion by China.
The US Congress authorized President Joe Biden to obtain aid for Taiwan from US military stocks, just as Washington has provided large amounts of assistance to Ukraine since February 2022, when it was invaded by Russia.
The military assistance package that the United States will send includes “critical defensive reserves, multi-domain awareness, anti-armor and air defense capabilities.”
According to an official, military aid to Taiwan with intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance equipment and small arms ammunition will be drawn from US stockpiles, making delivery possible on a faster-than-usual schedule. .
“We are working expeditiously to deliver the military assistance announced today,” the spokesperson said.
Likewise, a Pentagon spokesman said that they are “capabilities that Taiwan will be able to use to strengthen deterrence now and in the future.”
trade agreement
In June this year, the US and Taiwan signed a trade agreement to deepen economic relations between the two parties, a decision that prompted a warning from Beijing.
The purpose of the commercial initiative is to harmonize customs controls and regulatory procedures, in addition to establishing measures to fight corruption in the US and on the island.
After the signing of the trade agreement last month, the spokeswoman for the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), Sam Michel, said that the objective is to “strengthen and deepen the economic and commercial relationship.”
In June it was recalled that the United States The United States is the island’s second largest trading partner and supplies it with weapons, although it recognized Beijing diplomatically in 1979.
FOUNTAIN: With information from AFP
