A defense expert on Sunday said that a visit to Taiwan by a group of US defense contractors is significant, because they would be accompanied by US government representatives.
Twenty-five defense contractors from the US are to arrive in Taiwan today to attend the Taiwan-US Defense Industry Forum tomorrow. For the first time, officials from the Washington headquarters of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) are to attend the forum as part of a defense delegation.
Su Tzu-yun (蘇紫雲), a research fellow at the Institute for National Defense and Security Research (INDSR), said Washington is considering whether to integrate Taiwan in the US defense industry’s supply chain and that is why the AIT is sending representatives to the forum.
Photo: Liu Hsin-de, Taipei Times
The representatives’ attendance can be seen as “a major breakthrough,” Su said.
Their participation in this year’s forum means they might give advance assessment of proposed agreements and joint projects between the Taiwanese and US defense industries, which could help expedite clearance in the US executive branch, Su said.
Shu Hsiao-huang (舒孝煌), another expert at the INDSR, said that during the delegation’s four-day stay in Taipei, its members might evaluate whether some US weapons systems and drones could be produced in Taiwan, amid concerns over supplying the nation with arms in the event of a cross-strait war.
However, a military source said that the significance of the AIT officials’ visit is more symbolic than practical, although it could pave the way for bilateral cooperation through regular defense channels.
It is unlikely that any agreement will be signed during the visit, the source said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
A separate military source last week said the delegation would also visit the Ministry of National Defense and the Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology, and meet with representatives of civilian drone companies.
The half-day forum, to be held at the Taipei International Convention Center, is to feature addresses by US-Taiwan Business Council president Rupert Hammond-Chambers, defense experts and representatives of defense companies, the organizers said.
The participants would discuss how defense businesses can collaborate to help support Taiwan’s national security needs in the face of geopolitical risks, said the US-Taiwan Business Council, one of the main organizers.
The Ministry of Economic Affairs has fined Taobao NT$1.2 million (US$36,912) for advertisements that exceed its approved business scope, requiring the Chinese e-commerce platform to make corrections in the first half of this year or its license may be revoked. Lawmakers have called for stricter enforcement of Chinese e-commerce platforms and measures to prevent China from laundering its goods through Taiwan in response to US President Donald Trump’s heavy tariffs on China. The Legislative Yuan’s Finance Committee met today to discuss policies to prevent China from dumping goods in Taiwan, inviting government agencies to report. Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Kuo Kuo-wen (郭國文) said
The Ministry of Economic Affairs has fined Taobao NT$1.2 million (US$36,900) for advertisements that exceeded its approved business scope and ordered the Chinese e-commerce platform to make corrections in the first half of this year or its license would be revoked. Lawmakers have called for stricter supervision of Chinese e-commerce platforms and more stringent measures to prevent China from laundering its goods through Taiwan as US President Donald Trump’s administration cracks down on origin laundering. The legislature’s Finance Committee yesterday met to discuss policies to prevent China from dumping goods in Taiwan, inviting government agencies to report on the matter. Democratic Progressive Party
Taiwan and its Pacific ally Tuvalu on Tuesday signed two accords aimed at facilitating bilateral cooperation on labor affairs, according to Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA). The governments inked two agreements in Taipei, witnessed by Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) and visiting Deputy Tuvaluan Prime Minister Panapasi Nelesone, MOFA said in a news release. According to MOFA, the agreements will facilitate cooperation on labor issues and allow the two sides to mutually recognize seafarers’ certificates and related training. Taiwan would also continue to collaborate with Tuvalu across various fields to promote economic prosperity as well as the well-being of their
Sung Chien-liang (宋建樑), who led efforts to recall Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Lee Kun-cheng (李坤城), was released on bail of NT$80,000 today amid outcry over his decision to wear a Nazi armband to questioning the night before. Sung arrived at the New Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office for questioning in a recall petition forgery case last night wearing a red armband bearing a swastika, carrying a copy of Adolf Hitler’s Mein Kampf and giving a Nazi salute. Sung left the building at 1:15am without the armband and covering the book with his coat. Lee said today that this is a serious