Taiwan’s US arms pipeline is slowing: What we know so far about F-16 fighter jets, $14 billion deal and T-Dome
US ambassador to China told Fox News on Sunday, ‘President Trump continues to say, hey, we sell arms to other people around the world. He actually asked President Xi, would he like to buy some at one point.’
Taiwan’s Defense Minister Wellington Koo affirmed on Tuesday that the existing U.S. arms sales to Taiwan remain unaffected, and that negotiations with the United States over individual deals continue. However, a record $14 billion arms deal to the island is currently stalled. These concerns have arisen as there's apprehension that President Donald Trump might halt arms sales to Taiwan.
China has been urging the U.S. to cease these sales, most notably during a May summit in Beijing between Trump and China's President Xi Jinping. The U.S. halted the $14 billion arms package following that meeting.
Taiwan’s Defense Minister stated that they had not received any notice of any changes to sales or their cooperation with the U.S. He also assured that Washington’s policy towards Taiwan remains unchanged. Additionally, Taiwan has reportedly received 66 advanced F16-V fighter jets, which were expected to be delivered in 2024 but have been delayed due to the pandemic and production line issues.
U.S. arms sales to Taiwan are a significant source of tension between Beijing and Washington. China claims Taiwan as its territory, although the U.S. does not formally recognize Taiwan as a country. Instead, the U.S. is Taiwan's largest informal ally and is legally obligated to help Taiwan defend itself. Taiwan claims it buys arms to protect itself from a potential Chinese invasion.
China's People’s Liberation Army sends fighter jets and ships toward Taiwan almost daily. Experts believe that despite these delays, U.S. arms sales to Taiwan will likely continue, although there might be a short-term pause. "There are two more summits between the U.S. and China scheduled within this year, so I think neither side really wants to break things off, and the Taiwan issue will be put aside temporarily," noted Tamkang University professor Ma Chun-wei.
However, he emphasized that Taiwan remains crucial from a security standpoint, and "arms sales to Taiwan will still be inevitable going forward."
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