2 hrs ago
Taiwan Has No Notice of Smaller US Arms Sale Batches
Taiwan is waiting to hear whether the United States will approve a possible arms sale.
Taiwan’s defence minister said he had not been told that the sale would be divided into smaller parts.
He said the United States still supports Taiwan’s ability to defend itself.
Some Taiwanese officials had thought smaller sales might be less upsetting to China.
China says it opposes official contacts between Taiwan and the United States.
The article says President Donald Trump has held back approval of a new package while seeking to maintain good relations and a trade truce with China.
The US State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Taiwan Defence Minister Wellington Koo said Taipei had received no information about splitting a potential $14 billion US arms sale into smaller batches.
Koo said Washington had reaffirmed its commitment to helping Taiwan strengthen its self-defence capabilities.
Taiwanese officials had previously said smaller sales might help avoid upsetting Beijing.
The report says President Donald Trump held back approval of a new package amid efforts to preserve warm relations and a fragile trade truce with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
China’s embassy in Washington reiterated its opposition to official interactions between the United States and Taiwan.
- Who
- Taiwan Defence Minister Wellington Koo, the Taiwanese government, and the United States.
- What
- Koo said Taiwan had received no information that a potential $14 billion US arms sale would be split into smaller batches.
- Where
- Taipei, Taiwan.
- When
- Tuesday, October 6; the article does not specify the year.
- Why
- Taiwanese officials had said smaller batches could help avoid upsetting Beijing, while the United States is also seeking to maintain relations and a fragile trade truce with China.
Support for Taiwan’s defence
China’s objections
US-Taiwan defence cooperation
Support for Taiwan’s defence
Koo said the United States had reaffirmed its commitment to helping Taiwan strengthen its self-defence, and that military exchanges support Taiwan’s preparedness.
China’s objections
China opposes official interactions between Taiwan and the United States and has repeatedly called for US arms sales to Taiwan to end.
Splitting the arms sale
Support for Taiwan’s defence
Taiwanese officials have said smaller batches could be a way to proceed while avoiding excessive upset in Beijing.
China’s objections
China opposes the arms sales; the article reports no Chinese endorsement of dividing them into smaller batches.
Key facts
- Potential arms sale
- $14 billion
- Earlier approved package
- Trump approved an $11 billion package in December.
- Taiwan defence minister
- Wellington Koo
- Taiwan’s position
- Koo said Taiwan had received no information about separate batches and that US commitments to Taiwan’s defence had not changed.
- US response
- The State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
- China’s position
- China’s embassy in Washington said it firmly opposes official interactions between Taiwan and the United States.
Quotes
Wellington Koo
Taiwan’s defence minister
“Regarding arms sales, we respect the US review process. We are also continuing to coordinate with the United States. At present, we have not received any information about so-called separate batches.”
theprint.in
“This will also help us with our current war-preparedness efforts and the transformation of our armed forces.”
theprint.in
Sources
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