Biden signs Taiwan military aid bill into law --- TAIWAN NEWS

US$3.9 billion earmarked for FMF program for Taiwan, replenish military supplies TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — President Joe Biden on Wednesday (April 24) signed a US$95.34 billion (NT$3.1 trillion) foreign aid bill into law that includes military aid for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, and a provision calling for China's divestiture from TikTok. At 10:57 a.m., Biden announced that he had signed into law the national security package that was approved by the House of Representatives on Saturday (April 20) and the Senate on Tuesday (April 23). “It’s going to make America safer. It’s going to make the world safer. And it continues America’s leadership in the world, and everyone knows it,” said Biden. The president said the bill included “support to strengthen even further our allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific region.” When news broke that the Senate had passed the bill on Tuesday, Biden said that the bill was urgent for “our partners seeking security and stability in the Indo-Pacific.” Taiwan and Indo-Pacific countries are set to receive US$8.12 billion. Of that, US$2 billion is earmarked for a Foreign Military Financing (FMF) program for Taiwan and other U.S. allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific region. Another US$1.9 billion will be allocated to replenish defense articles and services supplied to Taiwan and other regional U.S. partners. The rest of the funds will be directed at strengthening the U.S. military presence in the region. This includes US$3.3 billion to build submarine infrastructure, US$542 million to bolster U.S. military capabilities, and US$133 million to augment the development of artillery and vital munitions. The bill's passage into law comes after months of deadlock in congress. U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson on April 17 unveiled his version of long-delayed foreign aid in the form of three bills, one for Taiwan and Indo-Pacific allies, one for Ukraine, and another for Israel. To mollify Republicans, Johnson added a sweetener bill, the “21st Century Peace through Strength Act,” that would seize Russian assets to send to Ukraine, force ByteDance to sell off TikTok, and impose “sanctions and other measures to confront Russia, China, and Iran." Biden pointed out that “while MAGA Republicans were blocking aid, Ukraine has been running out of artillery shells and ammunition.” He said that now that word has reached Ukraine about the passage of the bill, “There are reports of cheers breaking out of the trenches in eastern Ukraine.” He said that the bill also includes “vital support for Israel,” as he noted that Iran had fired over 100 missiles and drones at the country 10 days prior. At the same time, he said that the bill substantially boosts humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza.

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