Joe Biden authorized US$2 billion in loans to Taiwan to buy weapons from the US

US President Joe Biden signed into law a US government funding bill for next year that includes provisions to authorize US$2 billion in loans to Taiwan to buy weapons from the US on December 29, 2022.    The bill “Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023” finalized the US$1.65 trillion consolidated appropriations, covering funding for fiscal 2023.  The bill, which cleared the US Congress on Dec. 23, provides a record US$858 billion in 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.”   Taiwan would be required to pay off such loans within 12 years.  However, the bill does not include provisions to provide US$10 billion of grants — US$2 billion over the next five years — for Taiwan to buy US-made weapons, as authorized in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2023.  US Senator James Inhofe, the top Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said he was disappointed with the outcome.     “I remain disappointed that the Biden administration refuses to comply with congressional inquiries regarding Taiwan’s military needs and refuses to request money to implement the Taiwan Enhanced Resilience Act,” Inhofe said in a statement.   He added “This is simply another national security misstep by the administration.”     Previously, The US House of Representatives passed the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which authorizes up to US$12 billion in grants and loans to Taiwan to buy US weapons over the next five years.  The bill passed the Democratic Party-controlled House on a 350 to 80 vote.  The bill gives Taiwan the same treatment as major non-NATO allies — most of which are in South America and the western Pacific — in priority to obtain “excess defense articles” from the US.