New stage in US military support for Taiwan $567 million to counter Beijing.

U.S. President Joe Biden has approved $567 million in new support to strengthen Taiwan's defense, the White House announced. This decision aligns with Washington's commitment to support the self-governed island in response to growing tensions with China. Although the United States does not officially recognize Taiwan as a sovereign state, it remains its most important international ally and arms supplier, a point of frequent contention with Beijing. China claims Taiwan as part of its territory and has repeatedly demanded that Washington stop selling arms to Taipei, accusing the U.S. of interfering in its internal affairs.
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The Taiwanese Army's Third, Fourth, and Fifth Operational Zones conducted heavy artillery firing exercises in August 2024 (Picture source: Taiwanese MoD)

In a brief statement, the White House indicated that Biden had delegated authority to the Secretary of State "to direct the provision of defense articles and services from the Department of Defense, as well as military education and training, for assistance of up to $567 million for Taiwan." No further details were provided about the specific nature of this latest aid package.

This initiative follows a previous military assistance package approved in April 2024, during a period when China intensified its political and military pressures on the island. That multi-billion-dollar aid aimed to bolster Taiwan’s defense capabilities amid increasingly strained relations between Washington and Beijing. Although U.S. support for Taiwan is informal diplomatically, it represents a major source of friction in U.S.-China relations.

Taiwan has repeatedly expressed concerns over delays in the delivery of certain military equipment from the United States, including modernized F-16 fighter jets. Nevertheless, Washington continues to provide significant military aid to the island to enhance its ability to face a potential Chinese invasion. The approval of this new $567 million assistance reaffirms the U.S.’s commitment to supporting Taiwan's defense amid growing challenges posed by China.

Before the approval of the $567 million aid package in September 2024, the United States had already sent several significant military deliveries to Taiwan. One of the most notable was a $345 million package approved in 2023, which included air defense systems such as Patriot PAC-3 missiles aimed at strengthening the island’s missile defense capabilities. In addition to these systems, Washington also provided munitions, including AGM-88 HARM missiles designed to target enemy radar, as well as long-range artillery munitions. The U.S. also delivered M109A6 Paladin self-propelled howitzers, which offer enhanced mobility on the battlefield, allowing Taiwan to improve its response to ground attacks. These deliveries are part of the ongoing efforts to bolster Taiwan's defense capabilities amid increasing military threats from China.