Joint weapons production by Taiwan and the US should focus on projects that are of relatively low complexity and within the capabilities Taiwan has now, a nominee for a key US Department of Defense post said.
Alexander Velez-Green, the nominee for deputy undersecretary of defense for policy, gave the assessment in his response to policy questions on “security capabilities” suitable for coproduction asked by the US Senate Armed Services Committee ahead of his confirmation hearing on Thursday.
Formal coproduction agreements often involve complicated and lengthy negotiations with partners and industries, he said, indicating that Taiwan should focus on projects that can be delivered quickly to bolster deterrence and support a “denial defense.”
Photo: Cheng I-hwa, Bloomberg
“Appropriate coproduction or similar opportunities should focus on less technically complex capabilities for which Taiwan has existing workforce and production infrastructure,” he said.
On Thursday, Velez-Green told the committee that he has long supported arming Taiwan and ensuring it has the tools necessary to defend itself.
“I think that’s vitally important, not just as a matter of fairness, but also, frankly, from an operational perspective,” he said.
“If confirmed, you have my strong commitment to continue to advocate to that effect, including by providing options up to higher leadership for their consideration,” he said, adding that one option was a presidential drawdown authority (PDA).
Asked whether the fourth PDA for Taiwan under the administration of US President Donald Trump was on hold, Velez-Green said he was unsure of its status.
Asked about Taiwan’s role in deterring China and the need to expedite arms deliveries, Velez-Green said that “with respect to Taiwan and the first island chain, this is a critical terrain when we think about operating from a position of military strength in the Indo-Pacific” region.
“Having forceful deterrence along that geography is vital to ensuring a balance of power that allows us to achieve our ends,” he said.
The US’ focus is on the “denial of defense,” aimed at convincing China that any attempt at aggression would not only be costly, but would ultimately fail, making it not worth the risk, he said.
This also involves the role that US allies and partners can play in “this critical region,” he said, adding that it would be a problem if Washington could not provide allies or partners with the weapons they need.
In his written responses, Velez-Green said that “Taiwan needs to do more and faster, first and foremost by significantly increasing its defense spending and rapidly acquiring the appropriate weapons and systems needed to deter aggression from China.”
The US government has repeatedly pushed Taiwan to spend more on its own defense, with some officials calling for spending of up to 10 percent of GDP.
President William Lai (賴清德) has vowed to increase defense spending to more than 3 percent of GDP next year.
US lawmakers have said that arms vendors have been slow to deliver weapons ordered by Taiwan, potentially hurting its defense and deterrence posture.
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