The signing into law of the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024, by U.S. President Joe Biden is sincerely appreciated by the government and people, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said March 24.
According to the MOFA, H.R. 2882 will raise Taiwan-U.S. exchanges to a new level. The ministry said the legislation includes no less than US$300 million in free military aid to Taiwan under the U.S. Foreign Military Financing program; more than US$26 million for cooperative programs by the Department of Defense; and no less than US$4 million for projects under the umbrella of the Taiwan-U.S. Global Cooperation and Training Framework, among others.
The Biden administration had previously included a standalone request for Taiwan military assistance in its 2025 Fiscal Year Budget Request, the MOFA said. The latest development demonstrates the importance both the U.S. executive and legislative branches attach to assisting Taiwan’s strengthening of defense and expansion of global participation, as well as maintenance of stability in the Taiwan Strait and Indo-Pacific, the ministry added.
Based on the government’s existing national policies, the MOFA said Taiwan will continue to implement military reform, enhance its defense capability and work closely with the U.S. to deepen bilateral relations while fulfilling its responsibilities as a regional stakeholder ensuring peace, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific. (SFC-E)
Write to Taiwan Today at ttonline@mofa.gov.tw