FAPA Applauds Enactment of 2025 NDAA, Urges Continued Rejection of China’s Sovereignty Claims over Taiwan
On December 23, 2024, U.S. President Joe Biden signed into law the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 (FY2025 NDAA) (H.R.5009), following its passage by the U.S. House on December 11 and the Senate on December 18. This crucial legislation includes provisions to strengthen U.S. support for Taiwan, rejecting China’s misrepresentation of U.N. Resolution 2758, while authorizing up to US$300 million in military aid to Taiwan.
The FY2025 NDAA includes the Building Options for the Lasting Security of Taiwan through European Resolve Act (BOLSTER Act), led by Senators Pete Ricketts (R-NE) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), to enhance U.S.-Europe cooperation in strengthening Taiwan’s security and international presence.
FAPA particularly welcomes the BOLSTER Act’s call for the U.S. and European countries to publicly and repeatedly challenge the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) “One China principle” and actively refute China’s propaganda falsely claiming that U.N. General Assembly Resolution 2758 recognizes the PRC’s territorial claims over Taiwan.
The 2025 NDAA also authorizes the earmark of up to US$300 million to support the “Taiwan Security Cooperation Initiative.” This initiative allows the U.S. Departments of Defense and State to bolster Taiwan’s military capabilities in key areas and provide Taiwan with defense articles and services from existing U.S. inventories to expedite delivery.
The Act also expresses a sense of Congress calling for the invitation of Taiwan’s naval forces to participate in the 2025 Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) military exercise.
FAPA President Dr. Su-Mei Kao states: “We commend the enactment of the FY2025 NDAA for its commitment to strengthening Taiwan’s defense and for its call to challenge the PRC’s fabricated ‘One China Principle’ and its distortion of U.N. Resolution 2758. This U.N. resolution neither establishes nor recognizes the PRC’s territorial sovereignty over Taiwan. In fact, it does not mention Taiwan at all.”
Dr. Kao continues: “FAPA strongly urges the incoming Donald Trump administration to prioritize and intensify efforts to combat the PRC’s baseless territorial claims and its escalating aggression toward Taiwan. We are confident that the designated Secretary of State Marco Rubio, National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, and U.N. Ambassador Elise Stefanik — known for their steadfast support for Taiwan and hardline policies on China — will continue this vital work.”
References:
[1] FAPA
[2] Taipei Times
Biden Authorizes US$571 Million in Military Aid to Taiwan
On December 20, 2024, U.S. President Joe Biden approved a US$571.3 million military aid package for Taiwan to be delivered under the Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA).
The PDA enables the U.S. to swiftly deliver defense articles and services from the U.S. Department of Defense’s existing stocks to its allied partners if it deems that they are in crisis.
President Biden had delegated to the Secretary of State the authority “to direct the drawdown of up to $571.3 million in defense articles and services of the Department of Defense, and military education and training, to provide assistance to Taiwan,” the White House said in a memorandum issued on December 20, 2024.
However, the memorandum did not provide specific details about the contents of the latest aid package. This marked the third drawdown aid package for Taiwan, following the $567 million aid package announced on September 29, 2024, and the $345 million package unveiled on July 28, 2023.
On December 21, 2024, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense thanked the U.S. for “its firm security commitment to Taiwan.”
“Taiwan and the United States will continue to cooperate closely on security issues to maintain peace, stability and the status quo across the Taiwan Strait,” the ministry said.
Reference:
[1] Taipei Times
U.S. Approves US$295 Million Arms Sales to Taiwan
On December 20, 2024, the U.S. government announced the potential sales of upgraded tactical data link systems and gun mounts for ships to Taiwan, valued at around US$295 million.
It was the 19th arms sale to Taiwan approved by the administration of President Joe Biden.
The proposed arms sale includes 309 units of the Multifunctional Information Distribution System Joint Tactical Radio Systems (MIDS JTRS) Variant 5 (V5), an enhancement to the Link-16 tactical data link system, for an estimated cost of US$265 million, the Pentagon’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said in a press release.
The system will enhance Taiwan’s “communications and network security for its command, control, communications, and computers (C4) capabilities,” it said.
Also among the items were MK 75-76 mm gun mounts and related equipment for an estimated cost of US$30 million, the DSCA said in another press release.
The gun mounts will improve Taiwan’s “capability to meet current and future threats by providing surface and air defenses onboard various ships in inventory,” it added.
In Taipei, Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed gratitude to the U.S. for the latest arms sale, emphasizing that the U.S. continues to implement its policy of “normalizing” weapons sales to Taiwan and is fulfilling its steadfast commitment to bolstering Taiwan’s self-defense capabilities and resilience.
