US to unveil huge weapons deal for Taiwan.

The United States to Provide Military Assistance ‍to Taiwan

The United States is expected to announce as early as ​Friday that it will provide Taiwan with military assistance worth more than $300 million, two U.S. officials⁣ told⁣ Reuters,‍ a move likely⁣ to anger China.

Congress authorized up to $1 billion worth of Presidential Drawdown Authority weapons ⁤aid for Taiwan in the 2023 budget.

One ⁣official, ⁤speaking on⁤ the ‍condition anonymity, said the ‍package ‌is expected to be worth‌ around $330 ​million.

The White House ​declined to comment.

The formal announcement is not expected to include a list of⁣ weapon systems being provided.

In ‍recent weeks,⁢ four sources ‌said the package​ was expected to include four unarmed ‌MQ-9A reconnaissance drones, but noted their‍ inclusion could fall through as officials work through details on removing some of the⁢ advanced ‌equipment from the drones that only the U.S. Air Force is allowed access to.

Another ​issue was who would pay ​for the alterations to the drones, one ⁢of the people⁣ briefed on⁢ the ‍matter said. Reuters could not determine ‌if the drones were still ⁣part of the package.

The Taipei Economic and Cultural ⁤Representative Office in the United States did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Taiwan had previously ⁤agreed to purchase four, more‌ advanced, MQ-9B SeaGuardian drones, made ‍by General Atomics, which are slated for delivery in 2025.

China ⁤views democratically governed ⁣ Taiwan as its own territory and has increased⁤ military pressure on the island over the ​past three years. ⁤It has never​ renounced the use of force to ⁢bring ​the island under‍ its ⁢control. Taiwan strongly rejects Chinese sovereignty claims and says only Taiwanese people can ‌decide their future.

Foreshadowing the upcoming aid, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin on May 16 told a Senate panel: ​”And I’m pleased that the United States will ‍soon provide significant ​additional ⁤security assistance to Taiwan through​ the ‍Presidential Drawdown Authority that Congress authorized last​ year.”

Earlier this month, the top U.S. general said the United States and its allies need to speed ‌up the ​delivery of weapons to Taiwan in the coming years to help the island defend ⁤itself.

Beijing has repeatedly demanded the United States, Taiwan‘s most important arms supplier, halt the sale of weapons to the ⁢island.

U.S. Army General Mark Milley,⁤ chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, had said Taiwan needed weapons like air defense systems and those that could target ships‍ from⁣ land.

Taiwan has ‌said its defense spending ⁢this ⁤year will focus on preparing weapons and equipment for‍ a “total blockade” by⁣ China, including parts for ​F-16​ fighters and ⁢replenishing weapons.

Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA) has been⁢ used on an ‍emergency basis to expedite ⁣security ‍assistance to Ukraine by allowing the president to⁤ transfer articles and services ​from U.S. stockpiles. The Taiwan PDA, however, is a non-emergency authority approved by Congress last year.

Taiwan has complained of⁢ delays ⁤to U.S.⁣ weapon ‍deliveries, such as Stinger anti-aircraft missiles, as ‍shipments from U.S. stockpiles⁣ moved to Ukraine.

(Reporting by ‍Mike Stone and Idrees Ali; editing by Chris Sanders, Deepa ‌Babington and Lincoln Feast.)