6 hrs ago
Taiwan Says US Arms Talks Continue Despite China Pressure
Taiwan wants to buy weapons from the United States to help defend itself.
Taiwan says it is still talking with the US about these purchases.
Taiwan’s defense minister says the US has promised that its policy toward Taiwan has not changed.
China objects to US weapons sales to Taiwan.
Some weapons Taiwan already ordered have not arrived yet.
One delayed order includes 66 F-16V fighter jets.
The first two jets are reportedly in Hawaii waiting to be delivered.
Taiwan says it will keep working with the US on the deliveries.
Taiwan says it remains in continuous discussions with the United States over ongoing arms sales.
Taiwan’s defense minister says Washington has repeatedly reassured Taipei that US policy toward Taiwan has not changed.
China has repeatedly demanded that US arms sales to Taiwan end.
Taiwan has a backlog of previously ordered weapons, including 66 F-16V fighter jets ordered in 2019.
President Donald Trump previously said a new arms package worth about $14 billion was being held in abeyance.
- Who
- Taiwan, the United States, China, Taiwan Defense Minister Wellington Koo, and US President Donald Trump.
- What
- Taiwan says it is continuing talks with the United States about arms sales and has received assurances that US policy toward Taiwan remains unchanged.
- Where
- The comments were made at parliament in Taipei, while the summit took place in Washington.
- When
- Tuesday, September 29; the assurances followed a Washington summit between US and Chinese leaders the previous week.
- Why
- Taiwan seeks weapons to strengthen its defense, while China opposes arms sales to Taiwan and calls for them to end.
Taiwan and US Defense Cooperation
China’s Opposition
Arms sales
Taiwan and US Defense Cooperation
Taiwan says ongoing military sales discussions with the United States are continuing and that it needs weapons to defend itself.
China’s Opposition
China has repeatedly demanded that arms sales to Taiwan end.
US policy after the summit
Taiwan and US Defense Cooperation
Taiwan says it received repeated US explanations that Washington’s policy toward Taiwan had not changed after the leaders’ summit.
China’s Opposition
Donald Trump said that Chinese President Xi Jinping understood his position on Taiwan, while a new arms package was reportedly being held in abeyance.
Weapons deliveries
Taiwan and US Defense Cooperation
Taiwan says it will continue coordinating with the United States on delayed deliveries, including its F-16V order.
China’s Opposition
The reported delays mean Taiwan still has a backlog of previously ordered weapons.
Key facts
- Taiwan’s position
- Taiwan says it remains in continuous discussions with the United States over military sales.
- US policy assurances
- Taiwan Defense Minister Wellington Koo says Taiwan has repeatedly been told that US policy toward Taiwan has not changed.
- China’s position
- China has repeatedly called for US arms sales to Taiwan to end.
- New arms package
- A package reportedly worth about $14 billion was said by Donald Trump to be held in abeyance in May.
- F-16V order
- Taiwan ordered 66 Lockheed Martin F-16V fighters in 2019.
- Delivery status
- Taiwan has a backlog of previously ordered weapons; Taiwan media reported that the first two F-16Vs were in Hawaii awaiting delivery.
- Legal framework
- The United States is bound by the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act to provide Taiwan with the means to defend itself.
Quotes
Wellington Koo
Taiwan’s defence minister
“Regarding the ongoing military sales cases, we are also in continuous discussions with the US side. Each case requires concrete cooperation. To my knowledge, we have not received any notifications of changes so far.”
theprint.in
“We will continue to coordinate with the US side”
theprint.in
Sources
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