TAIPEI: The United States has approved $330 million-worth of parts and equipment in its first military sale to Taiwan since US President Donald Trump’s return to the White House, the island’s foreign ministry said Friday.
While the United States does not recognize Taiwan’s claim to statehood, Washington is Taipei’s biggest arms supplier and a key deterrent to China potentially launching an attack on the democratic island.
Beijing claims Taiwan is part of its territory and has threatened to use force to bring it under its control. China’s foreign ministry on Friday expressed anger at the arms sale to Taiwan, saying China will do what is necessary to defend its sovereignty, territorial integrity and security.
“This marks the first time the new Trump administration has announced an arms sale to Taiwan,” the foreign ministry said, after the US State Department approved the package.
Taiwan requested “non-standard components, spare and repair parts, consumables and accessories, and repair and return support for F-16, C-130, and Indigenous Defense Fighter (IDF) aircraft,” a statement posted on the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency said.
Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te’s government has vowed to ramp up defense spending as China maintains military pressure around the island.
While Taiwan has its own defense industry, the island’s military would be massively outgunned in a conflict with China and remains heavily reliant on US arms.
US approves first military sale to Taiwan since Trump’s return
https://arab.news/p53bj
US approves first military sale to Taiwan since Trump’s return
- While the United States does not recognize Taiwan’s claim to statehood, Washington is Taipei’s biggest arms supplier and a key deterrent to China potentially launching an attack on the democratic island
- China’s foreign ministry on Friday expressed anger at the arms sale
Report highlights role of British Muslim charitable giving in supporting UK public services
- The study, “Building Britain: British Muslims Giving Back,” finds that donations from British Muslims are helping to bolster overstretched service
LONDON: British Muslim charitable giving is playing an increasingly significant role in supporting frontline public services across the UK, according to a new report by policy and research organization Equi.
The study, “Building Britain: British Muslims Giving Back,” finds that donations from British Muslims are helping to bolster overstretched services, including local councils, the NHS and welfare systems, at a time of growing financial pressure.
The report estimates that Muslim donors contribute around £2.2 billion ($2.9 billion) annually, making them the UK’s most generous community.
This figure is around four times the national giving average and rises to almost 10 times the average among higher earners.
According to the findings, Muslim-led charities are providing a wide range of support, including housing assistance, emergency cash grants, food provision and mental health services, easing demand on statutory services.
Equi points to evidence from 2023 showing that housing support delivered by the National Zakat Foundation helped prevent evictions that would have cost councils an estimated £28.8 million, with every £1 of charitable spending generating £73 in public sector savings.
The report also highlights a generational shift, with younger British Muslims increasingly directing their donations toward domestic causes such as homelessness, child poverty and mental health challenges.
Despite their growing impact, Muslim charities face a number of barriers, including de-banking, restrictive funding rules, securitization measures and what the report describes as limited recognition from government. Equi argues that these challenges are constraining the sector’s ability to maximize its contribution.
“British Muslim giving is not just generosity but a lifeline for public services that needs recognizing,” said Equi Managing Director Prof. Javed Khan.
“From preventing evictions to supporting mental health, these donations are saving millions for the taxpayer and strengthening communities across Britain. The evidence is clear that Muslim-led action is delivering frontline support where the state is struggling,” he added.
Equi is calling on policymakers to engage more closely with Muslim-led charities and to move beyond what it describes as symbolic recognition.
The report recommends measures such as UK-based match-funding schemes and greater faith literacy within policymaking, which it says could unlock billions of pounds in additional domestic spending while maintaining the UK’s global humanitarian commitments.
The study concluded that with greater collaboration between government and Muslim charities, charitable giving could play an even more transformative role in strengthening public services and social cohesion across the country.
