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.”
“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.
Three Taiwanese airlines have prohibited passengers from packing Bluetooth earbuds and their charger cases in checked luggage. EVA Air and Uni Air said that Bluetooth earbuds and charger cases are categorized as portable electronic devices, which should be switched off if they are placed in checked luggage based on international aviation safety regulations. They must not be in standby or sleep mode. However, as charging would continue when earbuds are placed in the charger cases, which would contravene international aviation regulations, their cases must be carried as hand luggage, they said. Tigerair Taiwan said that earbud charger cases are equipped
Foreign travelers entering Taiwan on a short layover via Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport are receiving NT$600 gift vouchers from yesterday, the Tourism Administration said, adding that it hopes the incentive would boost tourism consumption at the airport. The program, which allows travelers holding non-Taiwan passports who enter the country during a layover of up to 24 hours to claim a voucher, aims to promote attractions at the airport, the agency said in a statement on Friday. To participate, travelers must sign up on the campaign Web site, the agency said. They can then present their passport and boarding pass for their connecting international
UNILATERAL MOVES: Officials have raised concerns that Beijing could try to exert economic control over Kinmen in a key development plan next year The Civil Aviation Administration (CAA) yesterday said that China has so far failed to provide any information about a new airport expected to open next year that is less than 10km from a Taiwanese airport, raising flight safety concerns. Xiamen Xiangan International Airport is only about 3km at its closest point from the islands in Kinmen County — the scene of on-off fighting during the Cold War — and construction work can be seen and heard clearly from the Taiwan side. In a written statement sent to Reuters, the CAA said that airports close to each other need detailed advanced
WEATHER Typhoon forming: CWA A tropical depression is expected to form into a typhoon as early as today, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday, adding that the storm’s path remains uncertain. Before the weekend, it would move toward the Philippines, the agency said. Some time around Monday next week, it might reach a turning point, either veering north toward waters east of Taiwan or continuing westward across the Philippines, the CWA said. Meanwhile, the eye of Typhoon Kalmaegi was 1,310km south-southeast of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), Taiwan’s southernmost point, as of 2am yesterday, it said. The storm is forecast to move through central
RSS