Twenty-five defense contractors from the US arrived in Taiwan and are scheduled to attend the Taiwan-US Defense Industry Forum at the Taipei International Convention Center today.
The Taipei forum is to feature addresses by US-Taiwan Business Council president Rupert Hammond-Chambers, defense experts and representatives of defense companies, the organizers said.
The group yesterday visited the Institute for National Defense and Security Research to discuss the security threats that Taiwan faces, the security issues in the Indo-Pacific region and what effects Russia’s war in Ukraine would have on Taiwan.
Photo courtesy of a reader via CNA
The reshuffle of the technology industry supply chain in the wake of the US-China trade dispute has seen a conscious effort to purge made-in-China products and components in the information, communications and technology sector, and the defense industry, said a national security official, commenting on condition of anonymity.
Taiwan’s development of an autonomous defense sector and the aerospace industry has made it a reliable supplier on the international stage, the source said.
However, deepening US-Taiwan ties in the defense sector is anathema to Beijing, they said.
Beijing has contacted certain media groups in Taiwan that are pro-China, labeling the US defense contractors as “sharks circling the waters,” the source said.
The source added that national security agencies would monitor security at the forum today as the government has credible intelligence that some pro-China groups might stage a protest outside the center.
Separately yesterday, Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) spokesman Alfred Lin (林家興) said the KMT welcomed the delegation’s visit to Taiwan and urged the Ministry of National Defense to negotiate with the US on the details and expedite the process to obtain the necessary military equipment to help defend Taiwan.
Lin’s comments refer to the 66 F-16V jets, approved for sale to Taiwan under former US president Donald Trump, which have yet to be delivered, despite the original delivery date set for early this year.
Lin also said that Harpoon anti-surface missile and other shore-based missiles systems that were originally pledged to be delivered within five years are being delayed due to the Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, urging the government to take more care when discussing arms purchases with international partners.
Any arms purchase should go toward the effective protection of Taiwan, while ensuring that taxpayers’ money is well spent, Lin said.
Additional reporting by Shih Hsiao-kuang and CNA
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