The United States to Provide a $345 Million Military Aid Package to Taiwan

The United States announced on Friday, July 28, that it will provide a military aid package worth $345 million to Taiwan. This move, despite the Biden administration's reluctance to disclose details, is likely to provoke anger from China. According to Reuters, the U.S. Congress approved $1 billion in military assistance to Taiwan in the 2023 budget, which strongly rejects China's sovereignty claims. Beijing has repeatedly urged the United States, the main arms supplier to Taiwan, to halt arms sales to the island. In recent weeks, four sources told Reuters that the package is expected to include four unarmed reconnaissance drones, the MQ-9A, but noted that they might be removed from the package as officials are working on details to exclude some advanced equipment from these drones, which only the U.S. Air Force has access to. The Taiwanese Ministry of Defense appreciated the 'steadfast security commitment' of the United States and stated that it would not comment on the details of the package due to an 'implicit agreement' between the two sides. Taiwan had previously agreed to purchase four more advanced MQ-9B SeaGuardian drones from General Atomics, which are set to be delivered in 2025. China considers Taiwan, which is democratically governed, as its territory and has increased military pressure on the island over the past three years. Taiwan firmly rejects China's sovereignty claims and asserts that only the Taiwanese people can determine their future.