US President Biden Authorises US$571 Million in Military Aid to Taiwan

Channel News Asia ^ | 21 Dec 2024

[nickcarraway]

United States President Joe Biden on Friday (Dec 20) approved US$571.3 million in defence assistance for Taiwan, the White House said, as the Democrat prepares to leave office ahead of the January inauguration of Donald Trump.

The United States does not officially recognise Taiwan diplomatically, but it is the self-ruled island's strategic ally and largest supplier of weapons.

China, which has ramped up political and military pressure on Taiwan in recent years, has repeatedly called for Washington to cease sending arms and assistance to the island, which it claims as part of its territory. Taiwanese officials said China last week held its biggest maritime drills in years, with around 90 ships deployed from near the southern islands of Japan to the South China Sea. Beijing did not confirm the drills.

[frank ballenger]

Sen. Everett Dirksen on government spending (exact quote is in dispute but the thought is right):

“A billion here, a billion there, and pretty soon you’re talking about real money.”

After all the debt ceiling talk and “can’t say no spending” in the new continuing resolution debate, we don’t need Joe to wake up suddenly, blink a few times and start promising more money in areas that could get us into more war.

[DannyTN]

Biden was probably holding up the aid to the last minute trying to get his 10%.

The question is: Did he release it because he got his 10% or just so his administration would get credit instead of Trump?

[ComputerGuy]

A total waste of my tax $$$.

[RoosterRedux]

If the debt ceiling hasn’t been raised, Joe is just reducing how much leverage Trump will have for tax cuts and other changes that may reduce revenue in the short term (and thereby increase borrowing temporarily).

[BroJoeK]

frank ballenger: "...we don’t need Joe to wake up suddenly, blink a few times and start promising more money in areas that could get us into more war."

ComputerGuy : "A total waste of my tax $$$."

It's well worth noticing that some of the same people who tell us that Ukraine is not worth defending are also telling us that Taiwan is not worth defending.

Can someone explain how such "America First" isolationists can be distinguished from those of the 1930s?

[ifinnegan]

Weird thing is Taiwan never asked for aid.

Taiwan has not received foreign aid has purchased all its weapons for decades.

[wildcard_redneck]

If fighting and ruling the entire world is so important to you why don’t you volunteer to fight in the Ukraine War? They are taking all comers, O great and mighty armchair general.

[Wuli]

It was a mistake to let the CCP into normal trade relations.

[datura]

Even worse to give them favored nation status after their rise. Needs to end, even though their attempt to become a consumer based economy is failing miserably.

[BobL]

Looks like Biden got one thing right since the election.

[frank ballenger]

Clothes. My dad pants and athletic shoes weren’t popular in the 1930s.

Can only speak for myself. 😉

[BroJoeK]

wildcard_redneck: "If fighting and ruling the entire world is so important to you why don’t you volunteer to fight in the Ukraine War?
They are taking all comers, O great and mighty armchair general."

But, "fighting and ruling the world" is the opposite of what's important to me.
Peace Through Strength is what matters most, and strength means supporting our friends in the world when they get into trouble.

As of today, three countries friendly to the US are in potentially deep trouble -- Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan -- and all three from the same source: the New Axis of Evil Dictators, Russia, China, Iran and North Korea.
So the question is, are we going to help support our friends in the world or, will we turn them over to our enemies?

As for fighting in the Ukraine War -- what do you think I'm doing here: an old man on the front lines of the information war?

And, "O great and mighty armchair general" -- thanks for the big promotion, but that title is already owned by our long-time FRiend, central_va.
I consider myself a mere Private -- a private citizen unpaid volunteer in the army of truth 😉

Economist Democracy Index,
Shades of blue = democratic -- Shades of red-black = dictatorships:

[BroJoeK]

frank ballenger: "Clothes. My dad pants and athletic shoes weren’t popular in the 1930s."

In 1941,

1. The America First Committee had 800,000 members, and held hundreds of anti-war rallies across the US.
   
2. Prominent members included pro-Nazi Charles Lindberg, anti-Semite Henry Ford and several members of Congress, including ND Rep Sen. Nye and progressive Wisc. Rep Sen. LaFollette.
   
3. The pro-Nazi, anti-Semitic US ambassador to Britain, Joseph Kennedy, was also considered an America Firster.
   
4. Pro-Nazi German American Bund had 25,000 members and also held rallies, most famously in NYC's Madison Square Garden on February 20, 1939 -- which drew 20,000 attendees, suggesting much higher support than just 25,000 members.

America First and the German American Bund had the same message regarding WWII -- the US should stay out of it -- and both groups disappeared from history on December 7, 1941.

(left) Pro-Nazi Charles Lindberg addresses America First rally, Madison Square Garden, October 1, 1941
(right) Pro-Nazi German American Bund rally, Madison Square Garden, February 20, 1939:

America Firsters were spanked so hard by history on December 7, 1941, that when the isolationist movement reemerged in the 1960s against the Vietnam war, it was not amongst conservative Republicans, but rather among Leftist pro-Communist "counter-culture" Democrats (left), leading yet again to entirely predictable results (right):