Last Week Asked To Stop By China, This Week The US In Fact Approves Military Assistance To Taiwan Through 'Official Channels'

Taiwanese military illustration. (Wikimedia Commons/Obviously)

JAKARTA - President Joe Biden's administration approved military aid for Taiwan through an "official route", Foreign Military Financing (FMF) which is usually used for sovereign countries according to notices sent to Congress, although an official said it would not change US policies, while Beijing last week asked Washington to stop arming Taipei.

The notice informed the Congressional committee about the State Department's intention to set up FMF funds of up to 80 million US dollars to support Taiwan.

"The FMF will be used to strengthen Taiwan's self-defense capabilities, through joint and joint defense capabilities, as well as raise awareness of maritime domains and maritime security capabilities," the notice said.

In response to this assistance, Taiwan's Ministry of Defense expressed its gratitude, but did not comment on the details of the aid, saying the United States had helped strengthen Taiwan's combat capabilities based on existing policies and laws.

Meanwhile, Michael McCaul, chairman of the Republican House of Representatives' Foreign Affairs Committee, said he was pleased the government was "ultimately" providing FMF to Taiwan.

"These weapons will not only help Taiwan and protect other democracies in the region, but also strengthen the US deterrence posture and ensure our national security from the increasingly aggressive Chinese Communist Party (PKT)," McCaul said in a statement.

The FMF, the largest military aid account managed by the State Department, mainly provides grant assistance to foreign governments for the purchase of US military defense equipment and training under the Foreign Military Sales program.

Meanwhile, a State Department official confirmed the notification to Congress, saying the decision to provide FMF assistance to Taiwan did not reflect any changes to US policy.

The policy in question is China's one- China policy, in which Washington officially recognizes Beijing diplomatically, not Taipei.

Interestingly, this approval came after last week China asked the United States to stop arming Taiwan.

Beijing claims the democratically-ruled island as its own territory, and warns against any form of "official exchange" between Washington and Taipei. Taiwan rejects Chinese sovereignty claims and says only the Taiwanese can determine their future.

China has repeatedly filed complaints with the United States regarding military aid and sales to the island. Its defense ministry said the US military should stop any form of military collusion' with the island.

Uncle Sam's country is known to be Taiwan's most important arms supplier. Last month, they announced weapons aid packages to Taipei of up to $345 million.

Most recently, the United States approved a possible sale of an infrared search and tracking system for F-16 fighter jets, as well as other equipment worth $500 million to Taiwan last week.

In response, China, through its Ministry of Defense, on Friday last week urged the United States to stop arming Taiwan.

"Childs urge the US to effectively fulfill its commitment not to support Taiwan's independence, immediately stop arming Taiwan, and stop improving US-Taiwan military relations," ministry spokesman Zhang Xiaogang said in a statement.