TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Defense Minister Wellington Koo (顧立雄) on Tuesday urged the Legislative Yuan to authorize the defense ministry to sign Letters of Offer and Acceptance for three arms packages with the US before reviewing and passing the NT$1.25 trillion (US$39.5 billion) special defense budget.
This would prevent force modernization efforts from being delayed, canceled, or forced to restart due to procedural setbacks, Koo said, per CNA. He urged ruling and opposition parties to respond rationally to the current threat environment.
The US government has formally provided Taiwan with draft LOAs for three arms sales, including follow-on purchases of TOW missiles, additional Javelin anti-tank missiles, and M109A7 self-propelled howitzers.
These offers are valid until March 15, but failure to sign them before the deadline could result in cancellation of the entire package.
Koo said the special defense budget was formulated over more than a year of rigorous analysis and consultations between Taiwan’s defense authorities and US government officials. The US expressed support for the budget, viewing it as helpful in enhancing Taiwan’s defense capabilities, he said.
