American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Director Raymond Greene today pressed the opposition-majority legislature to pass a "comprehensive" defense budget, saying integrated air and missile defense systems and drones are critically important and in high demand globally.
President William Lai (賴清德) last year proposed US$40 billion in supplemental defense spending, covering not only new US weapons, but also homemade weapons such as drones.
However, talks in the Legislative Yuan to advance the proposal have stalled, with the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and Taiwan People's Party saying while they support defense spending, they would not sign "blank checks" and want more details from the government.
Photo: CNA
In an interview with the China Times, Greene said it was vital for Taiwan to pass a "comprehensive budget package."
"This would not only send a critical signal to the international community, but is also essential for ensuring Taiwan acquires the full range of defense capabilities it has requested," he said.
While the US has already announced the sale of weapons including the Lockheed Martin-made HIMARS multiple launch rocket system, Taiwan's special defense budget also seeks integrated air and missile defense systems and drones, among other things, Greene added.
"As evidenced on the battlefields of the Middle East and Ukraine, these systems are not only critically important, but are also in extremely high demand worldwide," Greene said.
The government has said delays to passing the budget could mean Taiwan risks losing its place in the production and delivery line for US weapons.
KMT Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun (鄭麗文), who met Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) in Beijing earlier this month on what she called a journey of peace, is planning to visit the US in June.
Taiwan should not have to choose between China and the US, but the world is worried about the possibility of war between China and Taiwan, she told a local radio show today.
"Who would be so foolish as to keep saying all day long that we have to choose between mainland China and the US?" she said.
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