arms sales 結果共7筆

Explore the concerns over delayed U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, highlighting the establishment of a ＂Tiger team＂ to address delivery issues, discussions in the U.S. House Armed Services Committee, and the involvement of Taiwan’s National Security Council Secretary-General Wellington Koo in military matters.

President Tsai Ing-wen meets with Laura Rosenberger of AIT to discuss Taiwan-U.S. cooperation in trade, supply chain security, and information security. The Taiwan Relations Act (TRA) of 1979 and its significance in U.S.-Taiwan relations, along with the impact of the three joint communiqués, shape the framework of U.S. policy toward the Taiwan Strait. The TRA aims to maintain peace, security, and stability in the region and influences U.S. arms sales to Taiwan and defense cooperation. The Taiwan Security Enhancement Act and the Taiwan Travel Act demonstrate ongoing developments in U.S.-Taiwan relations.

Taiwan’s Defense Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng announces the extension of the Han Kuang 40 military drills to eight days, citing evolving enemy threats and a focus on detailed simulations. U.S. military observers are invited, and ongoing U.S. arms sales are addressed.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) spokesperson expressed gratitude for the concern shown by friends in the U.S. Congress regarding Taiwan’s security. The U.S. military has observed increased provocative actions by China around the Taiwan Strait ahead of the Taiwanese presidential election. Admiral John Aquilino, head of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, has called for restraint from China, perceiving these actions as pressure tactics. U.S. Representative Mike Gallagher urged the Pentagon to provide a classified briefing on assisting Taiwan in deterring China. Taiwan is committed to bolstering its self-defense capabilities and pursuing peace through dialogue with Beijing authorities. Despite pressure, Taiwan will maintain a non-provocative stance while defending national sovereignty and democratic freedom. Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry expressed regret over China’s threats of countermeasures against U.S. firms involved in arms sales to Taiwan and emphasized the need for the U.S. to fulfill its security promises.

Taiwan’s Defense Minister, Chiu Kuo-cheng, has announced that the Ministry of National Defense (MND) is preparing to strengthen its military in order to prevent war. This comes after Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed dissatisfaction with U.S. arms sales to Taiwan during his meeting with President Joe Biden. Chiu stated that Taiwanese military officers will continue to visit and learn from their U.S. counterparts, regardless of the circumstances. He downplayed concerns about the sale of ammunition, emphasizing that Taiwan is not intentionally arming itself but rather engaging in normal operations. Despite Xi’s denial of plans for military action against Taiwan in 2027 or 2035, Chiu emphasized that the Taiwanese military will not set a target year solely based on Xi’s statements. The MND will maintain a vigilant stance and be prepared for any situation without anticipating military conflicts in specific years.

Over 60% of U.S. military sales owed to Taiwan consist of traditional capabilities, with F-16 fighter jets and M1 tanks accounting for over half of the total amount. This is according to data compiled by the Washington D.C.-based Cato Institute. The total U.S. arms sales backlog to Taiwan is NT＄617.2 billion, as per data from the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) and the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). The Cato Institute further breaks down the U.S. arms sales backlog into three main categories: conventional, asymmetric, and munition capabilities, making up 63.2%, 22%, and 14.8% of the total backlog respectively. Uncompleted deliveries of traditional equipment amount to around NT＄390 billion, while delayed asymmetric capabilities total about NT＄135.9 billion, and munition accounts for approximately NT＄91.3 billion. The dominance of traditional arms in the backlog consumes a large part of Taiwan’s limited defense resources, despite the U.S. government not officially releasing a detailed breakdown of the weapons sold to Taiwan.

U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy announced on Wednesday (April 5) that the discussion with Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen was productive and vowed to continue the U.S. support for the country.