TAIPEI: Washington has approved $11 billion-worth of arms to Taiwan, Taipei said Thursday, announcing one of the largest weapons packages for the island as it seeks to deter a potential Chinese invasion.<\/p>\n
While Washington is traditionally Taiwan\u2019s biggest arms supplier, remarks by US President Donald Trump raised doubts about his willingness to defend the democratic island.<\/p>\n
Taiwan has ramped up its defense spending in the past decade as China has intensified military pressure, but Trump\u2019s administration has pushed the island to do more to protect itself.<\/p>\n
The arms sale announced on Thursday, which still needs US Congressional approval, would be the second since Trump returned to office in January, after the $330 million sale of parts and components in November.<\/p>\n
The latest, much bigger cache features HIMARS rocket systems, howitzers, anti-tank missiles, drones and other equipment, according to Taipei\u2019s foreign ministry.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is the second arms sale to Taiwan announced during the Trump administration\u2019s second term, once again demonstrating the US\u2019s firm commitment to Taiwan\u2019s security,\u201d Taipei\u2019s foreign ministry said.<\/p>\n
The potential size of the sale rivals the $18 billion authorized under former US president George W. Bush in 2001, although that was ultimately downsized after commercial negotiations.<\/p>\n
Bush ended up selling $15.6 billion-worth of weapons to Taiwan over his eight years in office.<\/p>\n
During Trump\u2019s first term, the United States approved $10 billion in arms sales to Taiwan, including $8 billion for fighter jets.<\/p>\n
The latest package is expected to soon receive a Congressional rubber stamp, given the cross-party consensus on Taiwan\u2019s defense.<\/p>\n
Taiwan maintains its own defense industry but the island would be massively outgunned in a conflict with China, and so remains heavily reliant on US arms.<\/p>\n
The latest arms sale shows Washington has continued to assist Taipei in \u201crapidly building robust deterrence capabilities,\u201d Taiwan\u2019s defense ministry said in a statement.<\/p>\n
Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te\u2019s government has vowed to ramp up defense spending to more than three percent of the GDP next year and five percent by 2030, following US pressure.<\/p>\n
It is also plans to seek up to NT$1 trillion in special funding to upgrade the island\u2019s air defense systems and increase capacity to produce and store ammunition.<\/p>\n
The defense spending proposals need backing from the island\u2019s opposition-controlled parliament before they can take effect.<\/p>\n
China deploys military aircraft and warships around Taiwan on a near-daily basis, which analysts describe as \u201cgrey-zone\u201d operations \u2014 coercive tactics that fall short of an act of war.<\/p>\n
Taipei\u2019s defense ministry said 40 Chinese military aircraft, including fighters, choppers and drones, as well as eight naval vessels, were detected around Taiwan in a 24-hour period ending early Thursday.<\/p>\n
On Tuesday, Beijing\u2019s third and newest aircraft carrier, the Fujian, sailed through the Taiwan Strait, according to Taipei.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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