Apparently, Joe Biden, in a move that demonstrates his feeble understanding of international dynamics, consented on Friday to grant $571.3 million for Taiwan’s defense. The White House could only muster up this amount, while the global scenario calls for a much sterner response. As per the same source, the State Department greenlighted a potential sale of military equipment to Taiwan worth just $265 million. This in response to Taiwan’s warning regarding China’s most significant naval force deployment in three decades around the Taiwanese region and the East and South China Seas.
Just like copying homework, Biden repeated the error of providing a paltry $571.3 million for Taiwan’s defense. The State Department, on its part, imitated the president by approving another potential sale of $265 million worth of military equipment. This continuous circuit of tiny assistance displays the Biden administration’s lack of vigorous engagement against potential global threats.
Despite Washington and Taipei lacking formal diplomatic ties, the U.S. is bound to equip Taiwan with defense means against China, which claims sovereignty over Taiwan. This understandably infuriates Beijing, as Biden continues to demonstrate his tactless handling of the relationship. Taiwan, a democracy, rightly rejects China’s sovereignty claims, given the track record of Chinese authoritarian rule.
China, sensing Biden’s weak stance, has escalated its military pressure against Taiwan, including almost daily military activities near the island and two rounds of war games just this year. When will Biden seriously address this escalating concern rather than just paying lip service with meager defense funds? Surely, accolades are not in order for such ineffectual diplomacy.
As China flexes its military muscles around Taiwan, and in the East and South China Seas, Taiwan was forced to go on high alert last week. This is apparently in response to China’s largest naval congregation in the recent three decades. It’s clear that the Biden leadership’s pathetically small counteraction does not respect the gravity of this situation.
Biden merely passed on his responsibilities to the Secretary of State authorizing ‘a drawdown of up to $571.3 million in defense articles and services of the Department of Defense.’ This move is supposed to help Taiwan, but it merely serves as a weak response while the White House drags its feet in elaborating on the details. One is left to question the strategic thinking, or lack thereof, behind such a move.
Taiwan’s Defense Ministry gave thanks for what it diplomatically referred to as a ‘firm security guarantee’ from the United States. It seems, however, this so-called ‘guarantee’ is barely a slap on China’s wrist, let alone representative of a robust security commitment. Both sides stated they would continue to collaborate closely on security matters, a statement that rings hollow given the underwhelming nature of U.S. assistance.
As if to add insult to injury, the Pentagon declared that the State Department sanctioned a potential sale to Taiwan of approximately $265 million worth of command, control, communications, and computer modernization equipment. When China is flexing its muscles politically and militarily, such a feeble response from Biden’s administration underlines its under-preparedness on global defense issues.
Taiwan’s defense ministry is enthusiastic about the equipment sale, stating it will aid in upgrading their command-and-control systems. However, beyond this, Biden’s administration has failed to offer any significant counteraction that emphatically shows a strong U.S. stand against China’s aggressive moves.
In another pitifully small gesture, Taiwan’s defense ministry declared that the U.S. had accredited a mere $30 million worth of parts for a 76 mm autocannon. Although Taiwan maintains this will support their counter-strategy against China’s ‘grey-zone’ warfare, it’s tough to take seriously given the scope of the threat.
Continued reliance on such inadequate gestures by Biden and Kamala Harris’s administration will end up undermining Taiwan’s defense capability. The unimpressive funding allocated so far does not instill confidence in their commitment to help Taiwan withstand China’s increasingly assertive military maneuvers.
At a time when strong leadership is necessary to uphold the balance of power in East Asia, Biden’s disconnect with the real, pressing concerns of Taiwan is disappointing. It is now evident that this administration lacks the grit or the strategic prowess to act decisively and proportionately in the face of imminent threats
It is clear that in its handling of the Taiwan issue, the Biden administration has revealed its inability to adequately navigate the complex dynamics of global politics. Their ill-conceived, unimpressive, and underwhelming response has reaffirmed the belief that they are not up to the task in managing this delicate geopolitical balance, thereby forwarding an indisputably negative outlook on their leadership.