TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The White House on Monday (March 11) announced a standalone request of US$100 million in military assistance for Taiwan in its fiscal year 2025 budget; the first such allocation made specifically for Taiwan by the U.S. Department of State.
The State Department called the move a "historic investment" and said it would help bolster Taiwan's deterrence capabilities and maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. The funds will be disbursed through the Foreign Military Financing (FMF) program.
"We break out Taiwan for the first time and have a specific line item for it. It reaffirms our commitment to security assistance for Taiwan and a free and open Indo-Pacific. I think it's very clear. I think it stands on its own," said Rich Verma, Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources.
In addition, President Joe Biden authorized US$500 million through the Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA) to sell F-16 Infrared Search and Track (IRST) systems and related equipment to Taiwan. The U.S. Department of Defense said that the US$500 million will replenish arms provided to Taiwan, supporting its allies in combating regional military pressure while allowing the U.S. to refresh its ammunition and equipment stockpile to maintain readiness.
The U.S. government's agreement to provide military equipment to Taiwan via the FMF program stemmed from the Taiwan Enhanced Resilience Act included in the FY 2023 NDAA. The bill authorizes the U.S. Department of State to provide Taiwan with up to US$2 billion in military aid annually from 2023 to 2027.