Donations from Taiwan helped pass US 'Taipei Act' clearing huge arms sales

Taiwan has reportedly made huge donations to the United States to push the “Taipei Act” in order to facilitate big ticket arms purchases by the island nation.

On March 26, US President Donald Trump signed the Taiwan Allies International Protection and Enhancement Initiative (TAIPEI) Act into law. China was quick to criticize the move, stating the US interfered in its “internal affairs” and that it “seriously violated” the One-China principle.

Under the bill, the US will consider reducing its economic, security and diplomatic engagement with nations that take significant actions to undermine Taiwan. The move will help Taiwan gain participation in international organizations, either as a member or an observer, and engage in weapons trade.

Last year, the US approved the sale of 108 M1A1 Abrams tanks ($2.2 billion), 250 Stinger missiles ($224 million) and 66 F-16 Vipers ($8 billion).

“To achieve its goal of passing the act in the US, Taiwan authorities had paid huge amounts of money in the form of ‘donations’ to experts and scholars recommended by US Congress members,” a source was quoted as saying by Global Times on Friday.

The alleged donations of the tune of $350,000 to $500,000 were made to US-based “Project 2049 Institute” through several Taiwanese educational research institutes such as the “Taiwan Institute of Economic Development” and “Taiwan Research Institute,” the report said.

“The US and Taiwan island also designated former White House Chief Strategist Stephen Bannon and former Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislator Hsiao Bi-khim as their contacts to operate and promote the passage of the bill,” the source added.