TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) on Thursday (April 25) thanked President Joe Biden and the U.S. Congress for passing a US$95.34 billion (NT$3.1 trillion) foreign aid bill into law that includes provisions that “strongly support Taiwan.”
On Wednesday (April 24), Biden signed into law “The Emergency National Security Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2024,” which supports security initiatives in the Indo-Pacific region, including for Taiwan. It aims to provide financial resources for military assistance to Taiwan and “strengthen even further our allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific region,” said Biden.
The provisions concerning Taiwan were passed with an overwhelming majority of 385 to 34 by the House of Representatives on Saturday (April 20).
As the legislation comes on the heels of the 45th anniversary of the passage of the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA), the ministry expressed its thanks to “our bipartisan friends” in Congress and the Biden administration for “once again demonstrating their high regard and support for enhancing Taiwan-U.S. security cooperation and maintaining peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region through specific legislative actions.”
“As a responsible and trustworthy partner of the international community, Taiwan will continue to steadfastly promote various national defense reforms in line with overall national policies,” said the Ministry.
It added that Taiwan will seek to “improve its self-defense capabilities and further strengthen close cooperation with the U.S. and other like-minded countries to jointly defend the status quo across the Taiwan Strait and uphold peace, stability, and prosperity in the region.”
Taiwan and Indo-Pacific countries are set to receive US$8.12 billion. Of that, US$2 billion is earmarked for a Foreign Military Financing (FMF) program for Taiwan and other U.S. allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific region. Another US$1.9 billion will be allocated to replenish defense articles and services supplied to Taiwan and other regional U.S. partners.
The rest of the funds will be directed at strengthening the U.S. military presence in the region. This includes US$3.3 billion to build submarine infrastructure, US$542 million to bolster U.S. military capabilities, and US$133 million to augment the development of artillery and vital munitions.
The law follows the passing on March 23 of the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2024, which includes US$300 million in military funding for Taiwan, bars the purchase of maps showing Taiwan as part of China, and provides financing for the de facto U.S. embassy in Taiwan.
