(Dan Tri) – A group of more than 20 US defense contractors will visit Taiwan in May to strengthen bilateral security cooperation.
Taiwanese defense force ships operated at sea on April 9 when the Chinese military exercised (Photo: EPA).
`The US-Taiwan Business Council will lead a delegation of US defense companies (to Taiwan),` US – Taiwan Business Council Chairman Rupert Hammond-Chambers announced on April 14.
Mr. Hammond-Chambers said the two sides would `discuss a number of issues on security cooperation`, including drone technology.
The delegation of representatives of the US defense industry will be led by Steven Rudder, former commander of the US Marine Corps in the Pacific.
`I know the parties often focus on the foreign military sales (FMS) program, whereby Taiwan simply buys US-made weapons. However, there are many internal programs in Taiwan
Responding to the above information, China Daily (China) warned that `giving the green light to US weapons production on the island (Taiwan) means immediate self-destruction`.
`Washington needs to understand that this proposal will change the game beyond its control,` the Chinese newspaper emphasized.
The US is still the main arms supplier to Taiwan, despite China’s strong objections.
In December 2022, US President Joe Biden signed the National Defense Budget Act for fiscal year 2023, which allocated a budget worth 816.7 billion USD to the US Department of Defense.
According to the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the US National Defense Budget Act, which approved a security aid worth $10 billion and agreed to simplify procedures for selling arms to Taiwan, sent a credit.
Information about the trip of US defense contractors to Taiwan was given in the context that Beijing reacted strongly after Taiwanese leader Tsai Ing-wen’s meeting with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy earlier.
Beijing has responded by holding military exercises near Taiwan.