US-Taiwan Relations Escalate with Unofficial Meeting and New Arms Transfer Authority

The Pentagon is seeking funding from Congress to use the $3 billion in annual military aid to Taiwan authorized by the fiscal 2023 defense authorization bill. The Defense Department wants to use the $1 billion authorization to transfer weapons to Taiwan via presidential drawdown authority, which would allow the Biden administration to immediately transfer materiel to Taiwan since it comes directly from existing U.S. military stockpiles. The move is part of the United States’ push to deter a possible Chinese attack on the island, which China considers a rogue province.