The Blubber

Taiwan is preparing to send two battalions of ground troops to the US for training, the first time this has happened since the 1970s.

When President Joe Biden approved a $80 million grant to Taiwan for the purchase of American military equipment, China expressed its opposition. Though seemingly modest, the significance lies in the fact that this grant, facilitated through the foreign military finance (FMF) program, marks the first time in over 40 years that the United States is using its own funds to send weapons to Taiwan, a nation it officially does not recognize.

Unlike previous arms sales under the Taiwan Relations Act, this direct use of American taxpayer money signals a departure from the strategic ambiguity maintained for decades in dealings with Taiwan and China.

The urgency to bolster Taiwan's military capabilities is evident, and this grant could be just the beginning of a larger-scale initiative, with estimates suggesting it could amount to up to $10 billion over the next five years.

The flexibility of FMF allows the US to expedite the process, delivering weapons directly from its own stocks without navigating lengthy approval procedures, a factor crucial for Taiwan's defense given the geopolitical complexities.