Presidential Drawdown AuthorityAmerica has approved a $345 million military sale to Taiwan. This is significant because this is allocated from the Presidential Drawd

America has approved a $345 million military sale to Taiwan. This is significant because this is allocated from the Presidential Drawdown Authority.

The US Congress had passed $1 billion PDA to President Biden in the current budget, which means that the White House can supply military equipment worth $1 billion to Taiwan without Congressional approval.

The last time PDA was granted to the Biden administration was worth $40 billion to Ukraine after the onset of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

This is the first time that Taiwan would receive military aid directly from the US stockpiles instead of a foreign military sales program.

The package includes air defense systems, munitions and reconnaissance equipment needed for Taiwan to increase surveillance over Chinese activities across the Taiwan Strait.

Although Beijing has issued a warning to Washington over this, the official position of the Pentagon is that the US can help Taiwan defend itself against any external aggression under the Taiwan Relations Act.

While China has reminded the US to adhere to the One China Policy, the US has hit back by claiming that they don't support Taiwanese independence. However, obliged under the Taiwan Relations Act, it has to help Taiwan resolve the issues with mainland China through diplomacy in a manner that brings peace and stability to the region.

Recently, China conducted a major military exercise around Taiwan with dozens of warships and planes. This was reported to be the second such exercise in 2023.

The arms sales to Taiwan will be expedited unlike the US-Taiwan $8 billion deal to deliver 66 F-16 fighter jets by 2026.

Military aid to Taiwan

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