SU-30SM, SU-35S, and SU-34 flying in formation - Sputnik International, 1920
Military
Get the latest defense news from around the world: breaking stories, photos, videos, in-depth analysis and much more...

Taipei, Washington in Talks on Co-Production of Weapons: Reports

© AP PhotoIn this image taken from video, Taiwanese Air Force F-16V fighter jets taxi along a runway during a drill in Chiayi in southwestern Taiwan, Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2022. Taiwan's Air Force pilots drilled on Wednesday to simulate an interception of Chinese aircraft into Taiwan's air defense identification zone. (AP Photo)
In this image taken from video, Taiwanese Air Force F-16V fighter jets taxi along a runway during a drill in Chiayi in southwestern Taiwan, Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2022. Taiwan's Air Force pilots drilled on Wednesday to simulate an interception of Chinese aircraft into Taiwan's air defense identification zone. (AP Photo) - Sputnik International, 1920, 19.10.2022
Subscribe
The Pentagon approved the sale of an additional $1.1 billion in military equipment to Taiwan last month, including Harpoon and Sidewinder missiles and advanced radar systems. Beijing slammed the decision, and responded by slapping sanctions on US defense giants Boeing and Raytheon.
Washington and Taipei are negotiating the joint production of weapons, Nikkei has reported, citing three people said to be familiar with the discussions.
The talks are said to be at the “initial discussions” stage, with the plan calling for the transfer of US military technologies to Taiwan for them to be manufactured on the island, or to build weapons in the United States using components made in Taiwan.
“This is going to take some time to really shake out,” one source told the business outlet, saying talks may continue through next year.
To date, US and Taiwanese officials and weapons manufacturers have long maintained that no coproduction of any weapons or ammunition takes place, and that US-Taiwanese cooperation in the field is limited to the sale of American weapons to the island.
The United States has sold tens of billions of dollars’ worth of military hardware to Taiwan over the decades, even though this constitutes a violation of the One-China policy governing US-China relations, and Washington’s informal ties with Taipei.
Rep. Mike Gallagher, R-Wis., a former Marine, joins House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., right, and other GOP members to criticize President Joe Biden and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on the close of the war in Afghanistan, at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Aug. 31, 2021. - Sputnik International, 1920, 18.10.2022
Americas
Congressman Says US Should Use 'Hard Power' Approach to Deter China on Taiwan
The Pentagon approved $1.1 billion in additional arms sales to Taiwan last month, with China blasting the decision and saying it “gravely undermines” the People’s Republic sovereignty and security interests, harms China-US ties and sends “a gravely wrong signal to ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist forces.” Beijing also slapped sanctions on the US weapons giants expected to make a killing off the arms sales.
Also last month, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee advanced controversial draft legislation dubbed the ‘Taiwan Policy Act of 2022’, with the bipartisan bill requiring Washington to provide Taipei with $4.5 billion in ‘security assistance’, and a $2 billion loan authority for additional weapons.
Despite Washington’s lavish promises, US arms deliveries to Taiwan have faced setbacks this year as the nation’s military-industrial complex pumps out tens of billions of dollars’ worth of equipment to send to Ukraine. In May, US media calculated that US defense contractors had run up a $14.2 billion backlog on military equipment Taiwan bought back in 2019 but has yet to receive. The same month, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense announced that it was searching for a stopgap alternative to US-made M109A6 self-propelled howitzers after being informed by their manufacturers that they would not be delivered until 2026 “at the earliest.”
Beijing considers Taiwan an inalienable part of China destined for eventual reunification with the mainland under the ‘One Country-Two Systems’ model currently used in Hong Kong and Macau. Speaking at the Chinese Communist Party’s 20thParty Congress on Sunday, President Xi Jinping reiterated Beijing’s intention to achieve reunification peacefully, but warned that China could not rule out the use of force in the event of provocations.
“With all our efforts, we sincerely insist on the prospect of peaceful reunification, but we will never promise to renounce the use of force and reserve the possibility of taking all necessary measures against the interference of external forces and the extremely small number of pro-Taiwan independence separatists and their secessionist activities,” Xi warned.
Chinese Communist Party members pose for photos with a sculpture of the party flag outside the Museum of the Communist Party of China of China here in Beijing, China, Friday, Nov. 12, 2021. - Sputnik International, 1920, 16.10.2022
World
CCP Congress: Xi Doesn't Rule Out Use of Force in Taiwan, Reveals Army Aspirations
Newsfeed
0
To participate in the discussion
log in or register
loader
Chats
Заголовок открываемого материала