Biden Approves New Arms Transfer to Taiwan

President Joe Biden approved $571.3 million in defense assistance for Taiwan on Dec. 20, AFP reported last night. The White House said in a brief statement that Biden had authorized the drawdown “of up to $571.3 million in defense articles and services of the Department of Defense, and military education and training, to provide assistance to Taiwan.” The defense articles are to come directly out of Pentagon stocks. The statement did not provide details of the military assistance package, which comes less than three months after a similar package worth $567 million was authorized, AFP noted. Taiwan earlier this week received 38 advanced M1 Abrams battle tanks from the United States, reportedly its first new tanks in 30 years.