A congressional delegation from the United States was in Taiwan on Friday, and they pledged to clear the $19 billion backlog in Taiwan’s defense purchases from the U.S. Before meeting with President Tsai Ing-Wen, Rob Wittman, vice chair of the House Armed Services Committee, delivered a speech in which he warned against any aggressive, unprovoked attack on Taiwan.
Washington is required by U.S. law to give Taiwan the ability to defend itself and to treat any threats to the island as matters of “grave concern,” but it is unclear whether Washington would deploy soldiers in reaction to a Chinese strike.
Wittman of Virginia, as well as Jen Kiggans and Carlos Gimenez of Florida, arrived in Taiwan on Thursday for a three-day trip. Tsai and Wellington Koo, the head of Taiwan’s National Security Council, are in attendance at the meeting between the three Republicans.
Since Chinese fighter jets and navy ships have been conducting daily drills directed at Taiwan, frequently passing by or encircling the self-governing island, Taiwan, which is claimed by China, has come under increased military pressure.
Taiwan has spent $19 billion on military equipment from the United States over the years to bolster its defense, but the majority of it has not yet been delivered.
We have a responsibility to make sure that we finish the backlog of international military sales that now exists between our nations.
The U.S. has begun looking for new avenues for providing Taiwan with defense assistance.
The United States announced $345 million in military aid in July as part of a major package that drew on American stockpiles.
On Wednesday, the Biden administration gave the go-ahead for the first-ever transfer of American military assets to Taiwan under a mechanism typically used to support independent, sovereign nations.
The modest amount was $80 million, and officials remained mum regarding its intended use.
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