Biden's First Arms Export to Taiwan... Worth 860 Billion Won

Taiwan Able to Improve Weapon Systems to Deter Chinese Ground Invasion
US Government Changes Arms Export Policy from Economy to Human Rights Focus

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suhwan] The U.S. Biden administration has approved arms exports to Taiwan for the first time since its inauguration in January. Amid escalating tensions between China and Taiwan, analysts suggest that the U.S. is expanding support to strengthen Taiwan's defense posture.

Approximately 860 billion KRW... Expected Chinese Backlash

On the 4th (local time), the U.S. State Department announced the approval of arms exports to Taiwan worth $750 million (about 860 billion KRW). This marks the first arms export to Taiwan since President Biden took office.

The approved arms include 40 M109A6 self-propelled howitzers and over 1,700 kits that convert projectiles into more precise GPS-guided munitions.

With this, Taiwan is expected to reinforce its aging M109 inventory and improve its weapons system to deter a potential ground invasion by Chinese forces.

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

The export of the approved weapons requires a review process by Congress and negotiations between Taiwan and the defense contractor BAE Systems.

On the same day, Rupert Hammond-Chambers, president of the U.S.-Taiwan Business Council, said, "This timely reminder of the close security partnership between the U.S. and Taiwan," and expressed hope that "the Biden administration will provide additional support to enhance Taiwan's military readiness and improve self-defense capabilities."

Previously, the U.S. has steadily increased arms exports to Taiwan since 2010. According to Bloomberg News, the U.S. government has approved arms sales exceeding $23 billion (about 26 trillion KRW) over the past decade.

The former Trump administration also approved various arms sales last year, including 66 latest-model F-16 Block 70 aircraft and Boeing's Harpoon anti-ship missiles, estimated at $2.4 billion (about 2.8 trillion KRW).

This arms export approval comes amid rising tensions between China and Taiwan over the Taiwan Strait. Bloomberg News predicted that China is likely to react strongly to this arms sale approval.

China currently regards Taiwan as part of its territory and has not ruled out the use of force to achieve reunification.

Since last year, China has continuously violated Taiwan's Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ), provoking Taiwan. Chinese air force fighters entered Taiwan's ADIZ on 87 days last year alone, exceeding the total number of entries over the previous five years combined.

Arms Export Criteria... From Economy to Human Rights

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

Additionally, the Biden administration is reportedly planning to shift its arms export policy from a primarily economic perspective to one emphasizing human rights.

Major foreign media, citing sources, reported that "government officials are scheduled to brief congressional members on the Conventional Arms Transfer (CAT) policy proposal on the 6th," and that "it is expected to be officially unveiled as early as September."

According to the policy proposal, the U.S. government must consider the human rights situation of the recipient country when exporting arms.

In the past, the Trump administration exported arms focusing solely on economic benefits such as domestic job creation. A representative example is the continued arms sales to Saudi Arabia despite international criticism over the Saudi government's involvement in the assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

A congressional aide said that the CAT policy proposal is expected to most significantly impact the export of small arms such as rifles and surveillance equipment used by police or paramilitary organizations. Consequently, countries like the Philippines, criticized for excessive police force, and Saudi Arabia, implicated in civilian massacre allegations during the Yemen civil war, are likely to be affected in their procurement of U.S. weapons.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.