US to Provide $660 Billion in Weapons to Taiwan?..."Biden Expected to Invoke Emergency Powers"

U.S. President Joe Biden is reportedly planning to send approximately $500 million (about 663.5 billion KRW) worth of weapons to Taiwan using emergency powers that can be exercised without congressional approval.

Last month, as China launched military exercises surrounding Taiwan using fighter jets and warships, three naval vessels belonging to Taiwan's amphibious reconnaissance patrol unit are patrolling the Matsu Islands, Taiwan's frontline close to the coast of Fujian Province, China.

Major foreign media outlets, including Bloomberg News, cited sources reporting that the Biden administration plans to support Taiwan with $500 million worth of weapons through a 'fast track' mechanism utilizing the 'Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA),' which can be used without congressional approval in emergencies. This is expected to be carried out using the $1 billion Taiwan security assistance budget reflected in the U.S. government's budget for this year.

The PDA is a presidential authority that allows rapid security assistance to foreign countries by using U.S. weapons and military equipment stockpiles without congressional approval during emergencies. It has already been used more than 35 times to support Ukraine since Russia's invasion. By utilizing the PDA, a significant amount of U.S. weapons that have been contracted and approved by Congress but have not yet been delivered to Taiwan are expected to be swiftly transferred.

As the U.S. and Taiwan rapidly strengthen their security cooperation, China, which has been escalating its level of criticism daily, is expected to strongly oppose the realization of this U.S. plan. The Chinese state-run English newspaper Global Times criticized the U.S. weapon support plan using the PDA, saying it will turn Taiwan into an even greater "powder keg" and stated, "This move proves the U.S. intention to use Taiwan as a pawn to contain China." Earlier, Mao Ning, spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said at a briefing on the 5th that regarding the recent visit of representatives from 25 U.S. defense companies to Taiwan, "The U.S. side is turning Taiwan into a 'powder keg,'" and added, "China will take resolute and strong measures to firmly safeguard its sovereignty and security interests."

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