Minister of National Defense Wellington Koo (顧立雄) today said he believed the US' internal review process for the sale of a second arms package to Taiwan is proceeding on schedule.
A major US arms package for Taiwan worth about US$14 billion that includes advanced interceptor missiles is ready for US President Donald Trump's approval and could be signed after his trip to China, Reuters reported last week, citing sources briefed on the discussion.
The trip was scheduled for early next month, but Trump yesterday said that he was seeking to delay it by about a month because of the Iran war.
Photo: Peter Lo, Taipei Times
Asked if the trip's postponement could affect the new arms sales to Taiwan, Koo said that the government had been coordinating closely with the US.
"As we understand it, their internal review procedures are proceeding on schedule," he said. "I don't think we have received any related information indicating delays."
China has repeatedly demanded an end to such sales.
Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) last month told Trump that arms sales to Taiwan must be handled with "prudence."
The US, which in December last year unveiled a US$11 billion sale of weapons to Taiwan, has not formally unveiled a second package.
Trump's moves to secure a favorable trade deal with China have raised concerns among some China watchers that he could curb US military support for Taiwan.
The US has no formal diplomatic ties with Taipei, but is bound by law to provide Taiwan with the means to defend itself.
Taiwan, like other allies and partners in the region, has been watching with concern how the shifting of US forces to the Middle East from Asia could affect US readiness to deal with incidents involving China or North Korea, especially with weapons stockpiles being rapidly used in the Iran war.
Koo said that he could not comment on US operations and military deployments.
The military would continue watching developments around the Taiwan Strait, as well as across China as a whole, he said.
"Our main focus remains on observing the relevant indicators and signs and we will continue to pay close attention," he said.
Department of Strategic Planning Director Lieutenant General Huang Wen-chi (黃文啟) yesterday told lawmakers that the delivery of 102 Lockheed Martin-made PAC-3 air defense missiles from the US was on track for this year.
INCREASED CAPACITY: The flights on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays would leave Singapore in the morning and Taipei in the afternoon Singapore Airlines is adding four supplementary flights to Taipei per week until May to meet increased tourist and business travel demand, the carrier said on Friday. The addition would raise the number of weekly flights it operates to Taipei to 18, Singapore Airlines Taiwan general manager Timothy Ouyang (歐陽漢源) said. The airline has recorded a steady rise in tourist and business travel to and from Taipei, and aims to provide more flexible travel arrangements for passengers, said Ouyang, who assumed the post in July last year. From now until Saturday next week, four additional flights would depart from Singapore on Monday, Wednesday, Friday
The Ministry of National Defense yesterday reported the return of large-scale Chinese air force activities after their unexplained absence for more than two weeks, which had prompted speculation regarding Beijing’s motives. China usually sends fighter jets, drones and other military aircraft around the nation on a daily basis. Interruptions to such routine are generally caused by bad weather. The Ministry of National Defense said it had detected 26 Chinese military aircraft in the Taiwan Strait over the previous 24 hours. It last reported that many aircraft on Feb. 25, when it spotted 30 aircraft, saying Beijing was carrying out another “joint combat
Taiwan’s three major international carriers are increasing booking fees, with EVA Airways having already increased the charge to US$28 per flight segment from US$25, while China Airlines (CAL) and Starlux Airlines are set to follow suit. Booking fees are charged by airlines through a global distribution system (GDS) and passed on to passengers. Carriers that apply the fees include CAL, EVA, Starlux and Tigerair Taiwan. A GDS is a computerized network operated by a company that connects airlines with travel agents and ticketing platforms, allowing reservations to be made and processed in real time. Major players include Amadeus, Sabre and Travelport. EVA Air began
Taiwan successfully defended its women’s 540 kilogram title and won its first-ever men’s 640 kg title at the 2026 World Indoor Tug of War Championships in Taipei yesterday. In the women’s event, Taiwan’s eight-person squad reached the final following a round-robin preliminary round and semifinals featuring teams from Ukraine, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, the Basque Country and South Korea. In the finals, they swept the Basque team 2-0, giving the team composed mainly of National Taiwan Normal University students and graduates its second championship in a row, and its fourth in five years. Team captain
RSS