TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — US President Joe Biden announced Taiwan's largest-ever military aid package on Sunday (Sept. 29).

In a memorandum, the Biden administration ordered the drawdown of up to US$567 million (NT$17.94 billion) in weapons, training, and logistic support for Taiwan. Presidential drawdown authority “allows for the speedy delivery” of weapons and related services to foreign countries and global organizations to respond to “unforeseen emergencies,” according to the US State Department.  

This follows Biden’s approval of the Indo-Pacific Security Supplemental Appropriations Act in April, which allotted US$2 billion for the Foreign Military Financing Program for US security partners in the Indo-Pacific, including Taiwan to counter Chinese aggression. The US also budgeted US$1.9 billion to replenish military equipment and services to regional allies.

Taiwan and the Philippines will receive most of the US$2 billion Foreign Military Financing supplement provided, US Senator Chris Coons said in May. Lawmakers need to decide how to divvy up the supplement, while Coons said at the time, “much of which may go to Taiwan, but the Philippines would be the second core priority.”

Although there is still a major backlog of arms deliveries to Taiwan, multiple weapons systems will make their way by the end of the year. The first batch of Harpoon missile systems recently arrived in Taiwan. The US approved the potential sale of 100 coastal defense missile systems and 400 Harpoon missiles to Taiwan in 2020. One hundred twenty-six missiles will be delivered by the end of 2026.

Taiwan is reported to have received the first batch of US-made F-16V fighter jets this month, while the first batch of M1A2T Abrams tanks is expected to arrive in December.