TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The U.S. Senate on Tuesday (April 23) passed a US$95.34 billion (NT$3.1 trillion) foreign aid bill that includes military aid for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, and a provision calling for China's divestiture from TikTok.
The Senate overwhelmingly passed a House version of the package with a vote of 79 to 18. Next, the measure will be sent to President Joe Biden's desk to be signed into law on Wednesday (April 25).
In a statement on Tuesday, Biden said, “I will sign this bill into law and address the American people as soon as it reaches my desk tomorrow so we can begin sending weapons and equipment to Ukraine this week.” Biden said the funding need is urgent for Ukraine, Israel, refugees in Gaza, and “for our partners seeking security and stability in the Indo-Pacific.”
After months of deadlock, U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson on April 17 unveiled his version of long-delayed foreign aid in the form of three bills, one for Taiwan and Indo-Pacific allies, one for Ukraine, and another for Israel. To mollify Republicans, Johnson added a sweetener bill, the “21st Century Peace through Strength Act,” that would seize Russian assets to send to Ukraine, force ByteDance to sell off TikTok, and impose “sanctions and other measures to confront Russia, China, and Iran."
Johnson said the bill to back Taiwan and Indo-Pacific countries consists of US$8.12 billion (NT$264 billion) to “counter communist China and ensure strong deterrence in the region." US$2 billion is earmarked for a Foreign Military Financing (FMF) program for Taiwan and other “key allies and security partners” in the Indo-Pacific region that are “confronting Chinese aggression," said Johnson.
Another US$1.9 billion will be allocated to replenish defense articles and services supplied to Taiwan and other regional U.S. partners.
The rest of the funds will be directed at strengthening the U.S. military presence in the region. This includes US$3.3 billion to build submarine infrastructure, US$542 million to bolster U.S. military capabilities, and US$133 million to augment the development of artillery and vital munitions.
On Feb. 8, the U.S. Senate passed a US$95.34 billion (NT$3.1 trillion) foreign aid bill that included US$61 billion for Ukraine, US$14 billion for Israel, and US$4.83 billion for Taiwan and other partners in the Indo-Pacific. However, the bill has stalled for over two months in the House, as Johnson faced intense pressure from Republicans allied with former President Trump, who opposed further monetary aid for Ukraine.