Taiwan says US has ‘high’ urgency in speeding up weapons deliveries
Facing a growing military threat from China, Taiwan has complained of persistent delays in weapons ordered from the United States, the most important international backer and arms supplier of the island, which Beijing claims as its own territory.
One of the main delays is a 2019 order for 66 Lockheed Martin F-16V fighter jets equipped with more advanced avionics, weapons and radar systems to better counter Chinese air forces, including stealth J-20 fighter jets.
Deliveries of many of the ordered weapons systems have already begun or have arrived, Koo told reporters in parliament.
“As for the parts that are experiencing delays, the United States has already established a special project team to accelerate relevant weapons programs and help us get on schedule as quickly as possible,” he said.
“I’ve also made clear many times that the United States’ sense of urgency to help us strengthen our self-defense capabilities as quickly as possible is actually quite high.”
Deliveries of F-16V fighter jets to Taiwan will begin with “full capacity” production this year, the ministry said in a statement over the weekend. Last week, Michael Miller, director of the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency, said he had signed a directive in 2023 to give Taiwan priority over other recipients, adding that security cooperation and assistance for Taiwan was a top priority.
The United States is required by law to provide Taiwan with means of self-defense, and its arms sales are a constant source of friction between Washington and Beijing, which demands that they be halted.
