TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan-US security cooperation has expanded beyond arms sales, Defense Minister Wellington Koo (顧立雄) said at a press conference on Monday.
Cooperation extends far beyond arms sales, Koo said, according to the Military News Agency. Exchanges during exercises represent only a small part of broader cooperation, he added.
Taiwan’s military will continue learning from partners’ combat experiences and adjust its tactics based on its defense needs, threat assessments, and China’s operational strategy.
The defense ministry urged other countries in the region to increase defense budgets and strengthen defense capabilities to deter attempts to unilaterally change the status quo in the Taiwan Strait through force or coercion, per MNA. Koo said collective deterrence would require Beijing to consider potential responses from Taiwan’s military and regional partners before taking action.
Koo said Taiwan’s eastern waters are also vital sea lanes for Japan and South Korea, and any major change in regional security would affect other countries. He said Japan is facing gray-zone pressure from China and joint China-Russia patrols, and that any decision to exercise self-defense would be up to the Japanese government.
Regarding Taiwan’s counter-drone capabilities, Koo said both “soft-kill” and “hard-kill” systems are being developed, including electronic jamming, lasers, high-power microwaves, automated gun systems, and interceptors, MNA reported. These systems will be deployed based on unit level, threat type, and cost-effectiveness, he said.
Koo said Taiwan’s weapons procurement prioritizes mobility, survivability, and operational flexibility. Military officials added that the armed forces are focusing on selecting systems best suited to Taiwan’s defense environment, including dual-use platforms.
