The Telegraph reported that the U.S. sent faulty military equipment to Taiwan, including “rotten armor” and expired ammunition. The equipment had water damage because it sat in an air cargo port for over three months, from November 2023 to March 2024, before reaching Taiwan.
Staff at the American Institute in Taiwan confirmed that the equipment was soaked and covered in mold. Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense also acknowledged the receipt of 2.7 million rounds of ammunition.
The 2023 National Defense Authorization Act allowed the U.S. president to withdraw up to $1 billion from existing stockpiles to aid Taiwan. In July, President Joe Biden approved $345 million in military support for Taiwan.
Delivering faulty equipment has caused extra costs for Taiwanese authorities. They spent weeks unloading, drying, and sorting the damaged items. This situation could undermine trust between the U.S. and its partners and hurt the Ministry of Defense’s security goals.
Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense stated that both nations are working together to address the issue.
