US President Joe Biden approved US$571.3mil (RM2.57bil) in defence assistance for Taiwan, the White House said, as the Democrat prepares to leave office ahead of the January inauguration of Donald Trump.
The United States does not officially recognise Taiwan diplomatically but it is the self-ruled island’s strategic ally and largest supplier of weapons.
China, which has ramped up political and military pressure on Taiwan in recent years, has repeatedly called for Washington to cease sending arms and assistance to the island, which it claims as part of its territory.
Taiwanese officials said China held its biggest maritime drills in years last week, with around 90 ships deployed from near the southern islands of Japan to the South China Sea.
Beijing did not confirm the drills.
The White House said in a brief statement on Friday that Biden had authorised the drawdown “of up to US$571.3mil in defence articles and services of the Department of Defense, and military education and training, to provide assistance to Taiwan.”
The statement did not provide details of the military assistance package, which comes less than three months after a similar package worth US$567mil was authorised.
Taiwan earlier this week received 38 advanced Abrams battle tanks from the United States, reportedly its first new tanks in 30 years.
Yesterday, the National Defence Ministry thanked the United States 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 ministry said it a statement. — AFP
