President Biden spoke at an event in Washington DC on December 10
AFP news agency on December 21 quoted a statement from the White House saying that US President Joe Biden has just approved military aid worth 571.3 million USD to Taiwan, as he prepares to leave office before the inauguration of Taiwan. President Donald Trump in January.
Accordingly, Mr. Biden approved withdrawing “up to $571.3 million in defense and Department of Defense services, as well as military education and training, to support Taiwan.”
The above White House announcement did not provide detailed information about the military support package, which was released less than 3 months after a similar package worth $567 million was approved.
Earlier this week, Taiwan received 38 advanced Abrams tanks from the US, believed to be its first new tanks in 30 years.
Taiwan received the first 38 Abrams tanks from the US
On December 21, the Taiwan Defense Agency thanked the US for its “firm security commitment to Taiwan”.
“Taiwan and the United States will continue to cooperate closely on security issues to maintain peace, stability and the status quo across the Taiwan Strait,” the agency said in a statement, adding that it would did not comment on the “content” of the support “based on a tacit agreement between Taiwan and the US”.
Beijing has repeatedly protested international support for Taiwan and accused the US of interfering in its internal affairs. Beijing has said it will never give up the ability to use force to control Taiwan and has also stepped up claims that “unification” of the island is “inevitable”.
