Taiwan Arms Shipment Delayed by Same ‘Accounting Error’ That Led to Ukraine Overestimate: Report

In May, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin confirmed that the Biden administration will take a significant step to shore up Taiwan’s defenses: Washington will use an emergency arms-transfer authority to send the nation weapons “in the near term,” he told Congress.

Several weeks have passed since that statement, which confirmed reports that go as far back as late April, without any apparent movement on that matter. This morning, CNN reported on the reason behind the delay: U.S. officials told the network that the holdup has resulted from an “accounting error.”

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Jimmy Quinn

Jimmy Quinn is the former national security correspondent for National Review.

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In May, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin confirmed that the Biden administration will take a significant step to shore up Taiwan’s defenses: Washington will use an emergency arms-transfer authority to send the nation weapons “in the near term,” he told Congress.

Several weeks have passed since that statement, which confirmed reports that go as far back as late April, without any apparent movement on that matter. This morning, CNN reported on the reason behind the delay: U.S. officials told the network that the holdup has resulted from an “accounting error.”