The United States has for the first time approved direct military aid to Taiwan as part of a program aimed at foreign governments, officials confirmed Wednesday.
The State Department informed Congress on Tuesday of the $80 million package, which is small compared with recent sales to Taiwan but marks the first assistance to Taipei under the Foreign Military Financing program, which generally involves grants or loans to sovereign countries.
For five decades, the United States has officially recognized only Beijing although Congress, under the Taiwan Relations Act, requires the supply of weapons to the self-governing democracy for its defense.
Successive U.S. administrations have done so through sales rather than direct aid to Taiwan, with formal statements speaking in the tone of business transactions with the island's de-facto embassy in Washington.
The State Department insisted that the first-ever aid under the program did not imply any recognition of Taiwan sovereignty.
"Consistent with the Taiwan Relations Act and our longstanding One China policy, which has not changed, the United States makes available to Taiwan defense articles and services necessary to enable it to maintain a sufficient self-defense capability," a State Department spokesperson said.
"The United States has an abiding interest in peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, which is critical to regional and global security and prosperity."
Taiwan's Defense Ministry expressed gratitude. "The aid will help in regional peace and stability," it said in a short statement.
China's Defense Ministry, asked about the aid at a regular briefing, warned that U.S. military aid to Taiwan would harm the island.
"U.S. military aid and sales to Taiwan only nourish the U.S. military-industrial complex while harming the security and well-being of Taiwan compatriots," spokesperson Wu Qian told a briefing.
"In this regard, the People's Liberation Army will, as always, take all necessary measures to resolutely counter it," he added, referring to the Chinese military by its official name.
The State Department did not formally announce the aid or give details, but a person familiar with the notice said the assistance would involve support to improve awareness at sea.
The assistance needs approval from Congress, which is virtually certain as lawmakers from both parties widely support Taiwan.
Representative Mike McCaul, the Republican chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and frequent critic of Biden's foreign policy, praised the step.
"These weapons will not only help Taiwan and protect other democracies in the region, but also strengthen the U.S. deterrence posture and ensure our national security from an increasingly aggressive CCP," he said, referring to the Chinese Communist Party.
China and the United States in recent months have resumed dialogue with hopes of bringing greater stability to the turbulent relationship between the world's largest developed and developing nations.
But Taiwan remains a clear point of friction, with Chinese officials repeatedly issuing warnings and viewing the United States as bent on supporting formal independence by the island.