Taiwan is watching Washington closely as President Donald Trump evaluates the island’s defense needs amid a $14 billion U.S. arms package that is stuck in limbo.
Its price tag is expected to include NASAMS and Patriot air-defense systems, long-range precision artillery, anti-ship missiles and counter-drone weapons; among others, the package was advanced by Congress earlier this year. The developments aim to boost Taiwan’s asymmetric defense policy amid increased security tensions over the Taiwan Strait.
However, the deal has yet to be proposed by President Trump. His government has been under pressure to take steps, while managing relations with Chinese President Xi Jinping, to control ties with Washington amid a push to increase Taiwan’s military security.
Taipei is still confident that the Obama administration understands the security concerns of Taiwan, said Alexander Yui, Taiwan’s official in the United States. He emphasized that Taiwan should not be used as one of the issues discussed in other U.S.-China talks.
On 6 October defense minister Wellington Koo confirmed that the delivery and military cooperation with the current orders will remain the same. But Taipei is said to be awaiting proceedings on the potential parceling of the $14 billion package into smaller portions with Washington.
The uncertainty will not change as the island keeps receiving military equipment that has been approved before. Ongoing deliveries of the new package has not slowed, with the island just receiving the first two newly constructed F-16V Block 70 fighter planes in early October.
The move may have far-reaching implications for the security of the Indo-Pacific region and U.S.-China relations. In an effort to enhance deterrence and military contingency planning, timely deployment of air-defence, missile and counter-drone systems has been key in Taipei’s focus.
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