Biden’s approval came as Taiwan was on heightened alert because of the recent firings by the CCP’s Rocket Force and army in inland China.
The United States announced on Sept. 29 a drawdown of up to $567 million in defense support for Taiwan.
In a statement, the White House said President Joe Biden has authorized the drawdown to provide Taiwan with “defense articles and services of the Department of Defense, and military education and training.”
The statement came after multiple waves of test missile firings were detected in inland China over the weekend.
The White House did not explain what defense articles and services will be provided to self-ruling Taiwan, which Beijing seeks to claim as its territory.
Taiwan was on heightened alert over the weekend because of the firings by the Chinese Communist Party’s Rocket Force and army in provinces and regions about 1,200 miles away from Taiwan.
Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said it detected multiple waves of test firings in the provinces and regions of Inner Mongolia, Gansu, Qinghai, and Xinjiang beginning at about 6.50 a.m. local time on Sept. 28.
Taiwan’s forces deployed joint intelligence and reconnaissance means to monitor relevant developments in the region, maintained “a high degree of vigilance,” and strengthened their alert, Taiwan stated.
The ministry pledged to strengthen Taiwan’s defense capabilities in the face of “severe enemy threats” but emphasized that the self-ruling island is not seeking any conflict.
“Any threatening and provocative actions will seriously undermine regional stability,” it stated, warning that any threat to the security and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific region will affect global development.
On Sept. 25, Beijing test-fired an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) into the Pacific Ocean, its first such test since 1980, during the U.N. General Assembly meeting in New York City.
China is one of five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council and is seeking to gain influence over key departments, including human rights.
Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry condemned the ICBM launch and said it “jeopardized the peaceful regional status quo.” It urged the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to exercise restraint and cease all activities that disrupt regional stability.
Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi told reporters on Sept. 25 that the Japanese government had not been notified of the launch in advance by China. Hayashi said the missile did not pass over Japan and did not damage any Japanese ships, according to local media.
Taiwan has sought to increase its military equipment purchases amid the Chinese military’s repeated incursions into the island’s airspace. In a recent budget report, Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said it aims to procure 1,985 Stinger missiles from the United States, in addition to the 500 missiles already ordered for its navy and army.
On Sept. 26, Taiwan’s military spotted 43 Chinese aircraft and eight vessels operating around the island, with 34 of the aircraft crossing the median line and entering Taiwan’s southwestern and eastern air defense identification zone (ADIZ). Taiwan responded by scrambling aircraft, navy vessels, and coastal missile systems to monitor their activities.
A day earlier, Taiwan’s military said it detected 23 Chinese military aircraft around the island, with 22 crossing the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entering the southwestern and eastern ADIZ to conduct “distant waters maneuvering.”
Analysts say China’s incursions are part of the CCP’s strategy of grayzone warfare.
Chris Summers contributed to this report.