US approves first-ever military aid to Taiwan through program typically used for sovereign nations
US approves first-ever military aid to Taiwan through program typically used for sovereign nations

US approves first-ever military aid to Taiwan through program typically used for sovereign nations | CNN Politics

The Biden administration has approved funding for the first-ever transfer of US military equipment to Taiwan under a program typically saved for sovereign nations, according to a notification sent to Congress on Tuesday.
The package – which is part of the State Department’s foreign military financing (FMF) program – totals $80 million and will be paid for by US taxpayers.
“FMF will be used to strengthen Taiwan’s self-defense capabilities through joint and combined defense capability and enhanced maritime domain awareness and maritime security capability,” the department wrote in its notification to Congress that was reviewed by CNN.
IT IS A SOVEREIGN NATION
De facto, yes.
But Taiwan themselves have never formally declared independence.
Taiwan is not a member of the UN, for example, and they have not applied.
Incorrect.
Taiwan has had a long and dramatic relationship with the United Nations, from being — as the Republic of China (ROC) — one of the founding members of the UN in 1945 to losing its seat at the National Security Council to the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in 1971.
They don't need to declare independence from anything... Does the US need to declare independence from Portugal? They were never part of Portugal...
Also, the UN does not have anything to do with being a sovereign nation. It just determines, well, if you're a member of the UN.