TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Defense Minister Wellington Koo (顧立雄) said Tuesday that Taiwan remains in contact with the US over ongoing arms sales and has received no notice of changes to individual procurement programs.
Koo said Washington had repeatedly assured Taiwan that its policy toward the country remained unchanged following the Trump-Xi summit, per CNA.
Taiwan is awaiting approval of a proposed NT$439 billion (US$14 billion) US arms package reportedly including National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems and Patriot Advanced Capability-3 missiles.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said last week that Washington was considering its own defense needs, military production capacity and overseas commitments as it weighed a pending arms sale to Taiwan. He said US arms sales must account for the requirements of US military commanders and the time needed to replenish weapons stocks.
Regarding Taiwan’s purchase of US-made F-16Vs, Koo said production had reached the stage at which the aircraft could be delivered. Preparations to receive them were continuing under plans developed by the US program office, but the timetable for flying the aircraft to Taiwan had not been finalized.
Koo acknowledged that not all the aircraft would be delivered by the end of the year. He said the Air Force was discussing compensation with the US, which had shown goodwill toward providing specific measures to address the delays.
