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Funding bill giving loan to Taiwan to buy arms signed into law

ROC Central News Agency

12/30/2022 11:10 AM

Washington, Dec. 29 (CNA) United States President Joe Biden on Thursday signed into law a U.S. government funding bill for 2023 that includes provisions to authorize US$2 billion in loans to Taiwan to buy weapons from the U.S.

Biden, who is on vacation, finalized the the US$1.65 trillion Omnibus Consolidated Appropriations Act covering funding for the U.S. government for fiscal year 2023 ahead of the arrival of the new year.

In a news release, the White House said the "Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023" makes consolidated appropriations for the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2023, and for providing emergency assistance for the situation in Ukraine, and for other purposes.

The appropriation bill, which cleared the Congress on Dec. 23, provides a record US$858 billion in defense funding -- a 10 percent increase over the funding in 2022 -- and US$772 billion in non-defense funding.

In its provisions regarding Taiwan, the Act allows up to US$2 billion in direct loans to Taiwan for military purposes under the "Foreign Military Financing Program," and Taiwan is required to pay off the loans within 12 years.

The bill does not include, however, provisions to provide US$10 billion worth of grants -- US$2 billion over the next five years -- for Taiwan to buy U.S.-made weapons, as authorized in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23 NDAA).

The NDAA was signed into law by Biden on Dec. 23, but for its funding provisions to be carried out, they must still be approved in the general appropriations act.

The appropriations bill also authorizes funding from the American Institute of Taiwan's (AIT) budget to support a fellowship program that offers the opportunity for U.S. federal government employees to live and work in Taiwan for two years.

The Act states that after consulting with the AIT director, the U.S. secretary of state is required to present an executive plan for the fellowship program to the Committee on Appropriations.

The funds made available by the Act are not allowed to "be used to create, procure, or display any map that inaccurately depicts the territory and social and economic system of Taiwan and the islands or island groups administered by Taiwan authorities."

(By Chiang Chin-yeh and Elizabeth Hsu)

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