Senate committee to meet this week to discuss $4.5 BILLION in support for Taiwan defense against China… as Ukraine fund soars past $15B despite financial crisis in US
- Sens. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., and Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., first introduced the Taiwan Policy Act in June
- The bill allows for $4.5 billion in security aid to be sent to the island democracy as it fights off an increasingly aggressive China
- Such billions in foreign aid would come after U.S. funding for Ukraine’s fight against Russia has soared beyond $15 billion
- The bill also calls for establishing a bilateral free trade agreement with Taiwan and formally recognizing Taiwan’s government
- It would recognize Taiwan as a major non-NATO ally – a designation that would expedite arms sales but is not a full-on defense pact
As the Senate gets back to work after August recess, the Foreign Relations Committee will consider a bipartisan funding bill for Taiwan’s defense this week.
Sens. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., and Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., first introduced the Taiwan Policy Act in June. The bill allows for $4.5 billion in security aid to be sent to the island democracy as it fights off an increasingly aggressive China that has promised to ‘reunite’ it with the mainland.
The committee meets Wednesday for a markup of the bill.
Such billions in foreign aid would come after U.S. funding for Ukraine’s fight against Russia has soared beyond $15 billion, despite reports that the funding cannot be traced.
The bill also calls for establishing a bilateral free trade agreement with Taiwan and formally recognizing Taiwan’s government as ‘the legitimate representative of the people of Taiwan.’ It would recognize Taiwan as a major non-NATO ally – a designation that would expedite arms sales but is not a full-on defense pact.
Washington has long pursued a policy of strategic ambiguity in the region, refusing to say whether it would come to Taiwan’s aid if Beijing launched an invasion. It has refused to even call Taiwan a ‘nation,’ reaffirming support of the One China policy. Formally recognizing Taiwan’s government could be seen as an offense to the longstanding One China policy.
Sens. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., and Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., first introduced the Taiwan Policy Act in June
The bill allows for $4.5 billion in security aid to be sent to the island democracy as it fights off an increasingly aggressive China that has promised to ‘reunite’ it with the mainland
‘When it comes to Taiwan, our response should be that we are for democracy and against communist aggression,’ Graham said in June. ‘We live in dangerous times. China is sizing up America and our commitment to Taiwan. The danger will only grow worse if we show weakness in the face of Chinese threats and aggression toward Taiwan. I’m hopeful we will receive large bipartisan support for our legislation and that the Biden Administration will sign on in support.’
The Biden administration, however, was not entirely on board as of August.
‘The White House has significant concerns. I have significant concerns,’ Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., told Bloomberg. Murphy, a member of the Foreign Relations Committee, said that while it ‘makes sense for us to draw closer to Taiwan,’ he said he was ‘not sure this is the moment to throw out 40 years of policy.’
China, meanwhile, has grown increasingly irate as an influx of U.S. lawmakers have taken trips to Taiwan, beginning with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her Democratic delegation in July.
Chineses air craft conduct combat training exercises around Taiwan in August
In this photo provided by China’s Xinhua News Agency, a People’s Liberation Army member looks through binoculars during military exercises as Taiwan’s frigate Lan Yang is seen at the rear, on Friday, Aug. 5, 2022.
Most recently, a bipartisan congressional delegation Florida Democrat Rep. Stephanie Murphy concluded its trip on Friday after meeting with President Tsai Ing-wen and other senior Taiwanese leaders. They were the sixth group of lawmakers to visit the island in recent days starting with Pelosi’s delegation.
On Sept. 1 the State Department announced a $1.1 billion arms deal with Taiwan for a package that includes 60 Harpoon anti-ship missiles and 100 Sidewinder tactical air missiles.
China warned of ‘counter measures’ if the sale goes through and said it ‘severely jeopardizes’ U.S.-China relations.
China launched its first-ever military drills in the Taiwan Straight last month after Pelosi’s visit, pushing past the median line, which both sides have respected as an unofficial barrier for decades.
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