TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Defense Minister Wellington Koo (顧立雄) on Tuesday said the postponement of the meeting between US President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping will not affect US arms sales to the country.
Reuters reported on Friday that the US is preparing a NT$446 billion (US$14 billion) arms package for Taiwan, including advanced interceptor missiles, which Trump was reportedly planning to sign after his trip to China. However, on Tuesday, Trump said that he had requested that the early-April meeting with Xi be postponed by about a month amid the Iran war, per CNA.
When asked about the status of the sale, Koo told reporters that the Ministry of National Defense has been coordinating with the US. “It is my understanding that the internal review in the US is proceeding as scheduled, and the Ministry of National Defense has not received any information regarding delays in arms sales," said Koo.
In response to concerns that US deployments to the Middle East could leave Taiwan exposed to China’s military threat, Koo said such decisions involve other countries’ policies, which the MND cannot comment on. He added that the ministry will continue to monitor the Taiwan Strait and Chinese military activities, focusing on warning signs and tracking overall PLA movements.
In December, the Trump administration notified Congress of a record NT$350 billion (US$11 billion) arms sale to Taiwan. The package included the Taiwan Tactical Network and Tactical Assault Kit, AH-1W SuperCobra helicopter spare parts, M109A7 howitzers, HIMARS rocket systems, TOW missiles, anti-armor drones, Javelin anti-armor missiles, and Harpoon missile support.
