Compromised Aid: U.S. Sends Damaged and Expired Military Gear to Taiwan, Triggering Concerns and Investigation

The United States shipped defective and outdated military supplies to Taiwan, packaged in water-damaged pallets. A U.S. investigation cautions the Pentagon that these deliveries could undermine trust. Meanwhile, officials in Taipei have acknowledged they are working closely with American authorities to resolve the matter.

The goods were supplied from November to March through the U.S. Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA).

According to the US Office of Inspector General (OIG), the deliveries comprised 120 pallets affected by water, holding over 3,000 body armor plates and 500 tactical vests that were "drenched and coated in mold." The OIG initiated an investigation following alerts from the Taiwanese defense ministry.

Furthermore, the U.S. Department of Defense oversight body reported that among the 2.7 million rounds of inadequately packaged ammunition, some were produced in 1983 and are now past their expiration date.

The munitions were contained in a combination of original, replacement, and unsecured packaging, complicating the ability of the Taiwanese military to effectively track and catalog their inventory.