The US military has strongly suggested that Taiwan prioritize the purchase of anti-air and anti-surface missiles over the procurement of Airborne Early Warning and Control and helicopter platforms, a source in the military said yesterday.
The US said the nation should increase its procurement of Patriot missile systems from the US to develop its asymmetric capabilities, the source said, adding that the US also said it is willing to provide newer models of the systems.
Washington said that Taipei should increase its purchases of uncrewed aerial vehicles and uncrewed ship drones, they said.
Photo courtesy of the Norwegian Ministry of Defense
The military has factored in the US’ suggestions into its special budget fund draft to be proposed in August, the source said.
The special budget, estimated to be between NT$300 billion and NT$500 billion (US$10.28 billion and US$17.14 billion), is still being discussed, with room for adjustment as the military continues its talks with the US, they added.
The funds would also include possible upgrades to the military’s command and control systems to the Link-22 standard, which would enable Taiwan to be integrated into the US’ communication networks, they said.
To date, Taiwan has purchased three sets of the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS), with the first set expected to be delivered this year.
The US also said that Taiwan should increase its purchases of NASAMS, the source said.
Separately, a source yesterday said that five missile launcher trucks and a radar truck for the RGM-84L-4 Block II (U) Harpoon missiles from the US have been delivered.
The US adopted a three-stage delivery model for the Harpoon missile systems, delivering training simulators and dispatch trainers and technical instructors to Taiwan for the first stage, the source said.
The second stage would involve the delivery of launching and radar trucks, the source said, adding that the missiles would be delivered in the final stage.
Taiwan purchased a total of 100 sets and 400 missiles from the US in 2023.
The 32 sets would arrive by the end of next year, while the remaining 68 sets scheduled to be delivered by the end of 2028 are still on schedule, the source said.
The staggered multi-stage delivery would allow the military to familiarize itself with the system and be combat-ready when they receive the platform, they said.
The missiles are likely to be delivered before the end of this year, as the military had requested delivery before the official establishment of the Littoral Combat Command in January next year, they added.
FREEDOM OF NAVIGATION: The UK would continue to reinforce ties with Taiwan ‘in a wide range of areas’ as a part of a ‘strong unofficial relationship,’ a paper said The UK plans to conduct more freedom of navigation operations in the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea, British Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs David Lammy told the British House of Commons on Tuesday. British Member of Parliament Desmond Swayne said that the Royal Navy’s HMS Spey had passed through the Taiwan Strait “in pursuit of vital international freedom of navigation in the South China Sea.” Swayne asked Lammy whether he agreed that it was “proper and lawful” to do so, and if the UK would continue to carry out similar operations. Lammy replied “yes” to both questions. The
‘OF COURSE A COUNTRY’: The president outlined that Taiwan has all the necessary features of a nation, including citizens, land, government and sovereignty President William Lai (賴清德) discussed the meaning of “nation” during a speech in New Taipei City last night, emphasizing that Taiwan is a country as he condemned China’s misinterpretation of UN Resolution 2758. The speech was the first in a series of 10 that Lai is scheduled to give across Taiwan. It is the responsibility of Taiwanese citizens to stand united to defend their national sovereignty, democracy, liberty, way of life and the future of the next generation, Lai said. This is the most important legacy the people of this era could pass on to future generations, he said. Lai went on to discuss
SECOND SPEECH: All political parties should work together to defend democracy, protect Taiwan and resist the CCP, despite their differences, the president said President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday discussed how pro-Taiwan and pro-Republic of China (ROC) groups can agree to maintain solidarity on the issue of protecting Taiwan and resisting the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The talk, delivered last night at Taoyuan’s Hakka Youth Association, was the second in a series of 10 that Lai is scheduled to give across Taiwan. Citing Taiwanese democracy pioneer Chiang Wei-shui’s (蔣渭水) slogan that solidarity brings strength, Lai said it was a call for political parties to find consensus amid disagreements on behalf of bettering the nation. All political parties should work together to defend democracy, protect Taiwan and resist
By refusing to agree spending increases to appease US President Donald Trump, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez threatened to derail a summit that NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte needs to run smoothly for the sake of the military alliance’s future survival. Ahead of yesterday’s gathering in The Hague, Netherlands, things were going off the rails. European officials have expressed irritation at the spoiler role that Sanchez is playing when their No. 1 task is to line up behind a pledge to raise defense spending to 5 percent of GDP. Rutte needed to keep Spain in line while preventing others such as Slovakia
RSS