Raytheon Co, the world’s largest missile maker, said Taiwan was close to signing a contract for three Patriot missile firing batteries and related equipment that the US agreed to sell to the country in January.
The order could be finalized as early as this year, after the legislature approves the accord, Sanjay Kapoor, vice president of Patriot programs, said in an interview at the Farnborough Air Show near London.
The offer, which is in addition to the US$1.1 billion order Raytheon announced in December, has gone to Taiwan and the company is awaiting the client’s approval, he said. The batteries made by Waltham, Massachusetts-based Raytheon include radar and command-and-control equipment and are used to fire two different versions of Patriot anti-missile interceptors made both by Raytheon and Lockheed Martin Corp. Lockheed makes the PAC-3 and Raytheon makes a version called the Guidance Enhanced Missile.
US President Barack Obama’s administration notified US Congress in January of its intention to sell Taiwan US$2.81 billion worth of Patriot anti-missile systems, including 114 PAC-3 missiles and the firing units made by Raytheon.
The US provides defensive armaments to Taiwan under the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act.
In a report last week, the Ministry of National Defense said that China’s missile arsenal targeting Taiwan could reach 1,960 by the end of this year. Current estimates put the number of short-range DF-11 and DF-15 ballistic missiles aimed at Taiwan at between 1,300 and 1,500. The high number referred to in the ministry report likely includes DF-21 medium-range ballistic missiles as well as cruise missiles.
Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Lin Yu-fang (林郁方) said in Washington on Tuesday that the “ambiguous message” he had received from the US was that if the US could not sell F-16C/D fighter aircraft to Taiwan for the moment, it would consider upgrading the capability of its older F-16A/Bs.
Lin, who is heading a delegation of Taiwanese lawmakers on a visit to the US capital, said Washington had yet to decide on Taiwan’s request to purchase either F-16C/D aircraft or diesel-electric submarines.
Lin said the Taiwanese government had never abandoned its desire to acquire diesel-electric submarines and had, in fact, earmarked funds to acquire them.
Because of the difficulties involved in the design and production of the submarines, however, Taiwan can decide whether to purchase them only after conducting a feasibility study and evaluating quotations, he said.
Since arriving in Washington on Sunday, the delegation has met US Deputy Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs David Shear at the US Department of State, Derek Mitchell, principal deputy assistant secretary of defense in charge of Asian and Pacific security affairs, and several senators and congressmen.
During the meetings, the US officials have expressed support for Taiwan’s efforts to seek international recognition, particularly its bid to join the International Civil Aviation Organization, Lin said.
Taiwan last night blanked world No. 1 Japan 4-0 to win the World Baseball Softball Confederation’s (WBSC) Premier12 for the first time. Taiwanese ace Lin Yu-min (林昱珉) held defending champions Japan to just one hit and no runs in the first four innings, before catcher Lin Chia-cheng (林家正) opened the fifth inning with a solo home run. That was soon followed by a three-run homer from Taiwanese captain Chen Chieh-hsien (陳傑憲) to put Taiwan ahead in the prestigious tournament of the world’s top 12 baseball teams. In addition to a superb performance from 21-year-old Arizona Diamondbacks prospect Lin, three more Taiwanese pitchers
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Taiwan yesterday advanced to the gold medal match of the World Baseball Softball Confederation’s (WBSC) Premier12 for the first time in history, despite last night losing 9-6 to Japan. Taiwan advanced after the US defeated Venezuela in the first game on the last day of the Super Round. However, the US had no chance of advancing to the championship game unless it defeated Venezuela by at least nine points. The US won 6-5. As a result, the two teams — who both had one win and two losses in the Super Round — are to face off again in the
Minister of Labor Ho Pei-shan (何佩珊) said she would tender her resignation following criticism of her handling of alleged bullying by Ministry of Labor Workforce Development Agency branch director Hsieh Yi-jung (謝宜容) resulting in the death of an employee. The ministry yesterday gave Hsieh two demerits and said she is subject to review by the Disciplinary Court. The severest possible punishment would be her removal from office and being barred from government jobs indefinitely. Workforce Development Agency Director-General Tsai Meng-liang (蔡孟良) also received a major demerit and was transferred to another position. Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) issued a formal apology
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