The coordinator for Strategic Communications at the White House National Security Council, John Kirby, pointed to "various powers" that Washington will use "as necessary" to supply weapons to Taipei
WASHINGTON, August 4. /tass/. The US administration has denied reports of its intention to work with Congress to put funds for the supply of weapons to Taiwan in a request for an additional package of financial assistance to Ukraine. This statement was made earlier by the Financial Times newspaper.
"No, I am not in a position to confirm this publication," John Kirby, the coordinator for strategic communications at the National Security Council (NSC) of the White House, said at an online briefing for journalists on Thursday. According to him, the executive branch of the US government has "various powers", which it intends to use "as necessary" to supply Taiwan with weapons and military equipment.
The representative of the National Security Council refused to clarify whether Washington is going to ask Beijing about a personal meeting between US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the upcoming G20 summit in India, and did not say whether the parties are discussing this possibility. "If and when we can talk about the meeting, we will announce it," Kirby promised.
According to Financial Times sources, the White House intends to accelerate the supply of weapons to the island "in the face of a growing threat from China." It is expected that the White House Office of Administration and Budget will include funding for Taiwan in an additional budget request for Ukraine, but the exact amount of funds for military assistance to Taipei is not specified.
If Congress approves this initiative, Taiwan will receive weapons for the first time through a foreign military aid system funded by US taxpayers. A similar mechanism is used to provide military support to Kiev. Last week, Biden ordered up to $345 million to be allocated for defense products and services of the Pentagon, as well as for training and training in the military sphere to assist Taiwan. According to the ABC TV channel, the US Department of Defense will provide Taipei with portable anti-aircraft missile systems, firearms, missiles, intelligence and surveillance equipment.
Taiwan has been governed by its own administration since 1949, when the remnants of the Kuomintang forces led by Chiang Kai-shek (1887-1975) fled to the island, having been defeated in the Chinese civil war. Since then, Taiwan has retained the flag and some other attributes of the former Republic of China, which existed on the mainland before the Communists came to power. According to the official position of the PRC, supported by most countries, including Russia, the island is one of the Chinese provinces.
The United States severed diplomatic relations with Taiwan in 1979 and established them with the PRC. Recognizing the "one China" policy, Washington at the same time continues to maintain contacts with the Taipei administration and supplies weapons to the island. Tensions in the Taiwan Strait region seriously escalated after Nancy Pelosi, then Speaker of the House of Representatives of Congress, visited the island on August 2-3, 2022.
