Taipei’s leading political parties reached consensus on Thursday to authorise the government to execute agreements with the United States covering four separate arms packages, after officials cautioned that failing to meet signing windows would put Taiwan at the back of the delivery queue.
The negotiations over the island’s defence outlays have unsettled U.S. officials, who are Taiwan’s principal international supporter and primary supplier of military equipment despite the absence of formal diplomatic relations.
President Lai Ching-te’s administration had sought parliamentary approval for an additional $40 billion in defence spending. Opposition lawmakers, who hold the largest number of seats, contend the proposals lack sufficient detail and have said they will not endorse what they describe as "blank cheques," even while expressing support for bolstering national defence.
Both opposition parties have proposed alternative, lower-cost defence packages, but the Ministry of National Defense has emphasised that the U.S. letters of offer and acceptance must be signed on schedule or Taiwan would forfeit its place in the production and delivery sequence.
During a session of the Legislative Yuan’s foreign affairs and defence committee, members from across the political spectrum agreed that the executive branch may sign the U.S. agreements in advance of completing parliamentary reviews, should timing force the issue.
The armaments covered by the pending letters include TOW anti-tank missiles, M109A7 self-propelled howitzers, Javelin missiles manufactured by Lockheed Martin, and the HIMARS multiple-launch rocket system.
Defence Minister Wellington Koo told reporters on Tuesday that the HIMARS letter of offer and acceptance would expire on March 26 for 82 systems, which were identified by the U.S. as part of an $11 billion arms package for Taiwan. The ministry stated that Sunday is the deadline to sign the letters for the remaining weapon systems.
Last month, a bipartisan group of 37 U.S. lawmakers expressed concern to senior Taiwanese legislators about the delays in finalising the arms purchases. The article notes that the Trump administration has urged allies to raise defence spending - a policy position President Lai and his administration have strongly supported.
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