Office of the Inspector General
The OIG warned that the gaffe risked damaging Taiwan’s confidence in the US at a time when Taipei is already facing growing pressure from Beijing.
In a statement to Taiwanese media, Pentagon spokesperson Maj. Pete Nguyen said the Defense Department would learn from the OIG’s report and improve its shipment process.
“Taiwan is a key security cooperation partner, and the US government is committed to ensuring that equipment delivered to this partner is sufficient for operational use,” Nguyen said, per the Taipei Times.
The Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent outside regular business hours by Business Insider.
The damaged items sent to the self-governed island were part of a defense package worth $345 million that President Joe Biden signed in July 2023.
Tensions between Taipei and Beijing have been roiling to new heights since the reelection of the Democratic Progressive Party in Taiwan, a sign that voters continue to support resisting mainland China.