TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Members of the U.S. House of Representatives sent a letter to the House Committee on Appropriations on Wednesday (April 17) calling for a US$165 million (NT$5.3 billion) investment to speed up the delivery of Harpoon missiles to Taiwan.

Led by U.S. Representative Mark Alford, signatories to the letter included representatives Blaine Luetkemeyer, Rob Wittman, and Donald Davis, per CNA. In addition to expediting the missile delivery, it also calls for the weapons to be set up in Taiwan before the Davidson Window. This refers to the period of time suggested by former commander of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command Philip Davidson, in which China could invade Taiwan.

“It is clear that Harpoons are the deterrent we urgently need to prevent China from invading or blockading Taiwan,” Alford wrote.

In addition to the Harpoon missiles, the letter also mentioned the Standoff Land Attack Missile Expanded Response (SLAM-ER) manufactured by Boeing. “The Harpoon and SLAM-ER programs are in the final stages of updating weapons. Four hundred missiles and 100 mobile launchers are being prepared to be sent to Taiwan in the third quarter of 2025,” the letter said.

The U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced on Oct. 26, 2020 the sale of 100 sets of Harpoon Coastal Defense Systems to Taiwan, which includes 400 RGM-84L-4 Harpoon II Surface Launched Missiles, four RTM-84L-4 Harpoon Block II Exercise Missiles, 100 Harpoon Coastal Defense System Launcher Transporter Units, and 25 radar trucks, with delivery expected by 2028. The package is estimated to cost US$2.37 billion.

U.S. arms sales to Taiwan have been backlogged by nearly NT$614 billion (US$19 billion) in arms sales, including Harpoon missiles, High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), and F-16s, Politico reported.