Taiwan signs arms procurement agreements with the US for around $6.6 billion

Taipei has signed six new major arms procurement agreements with the United States for a total amount exceeding 208.77 billion Taiwanese dollars (around $6.6 billion).

According to the information portal Focus Taiwan, the agreements were signed in April.

According to the portal, these agreements include the supply to Taiwan of American HIMARS multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) worth 123.5 billion Taiwanese dollars ($3.9 billion), M109A7 Paladin self-propelled howitzers worth 73.89 billion Taiwanese dollars ($2.3 billion), and replenishment of the ground forces' missile arsenal worth 5.32 billion Taiwanese dollars ($168 million).

The remaining three contracts cover the purchase of missiles for the Navy worth 5.13 billion Taiwanese dollars ($162 million), joint Taiwanese-American production of large-caliber ammunition worth 910.45 million Taiwanese dollars ($29 million), and consulting services related to an integrated air defense system worth 22.87 million Taiwanese dollars ($726,000).

Earlier, Taiwan's Executive Yuan (the highest executive body) proposed to the island's legislators a special defense budget of 1.25 trillion Taiwanese dollars (around $40 billion) to cover the costs of acquiring domestic and foreign weapons systems over the next eight years. However, opposition parties demanded more detailed information and succeeded in getting only 400 billion Taiwanese dollars approved for arms procurement so far. Discussions on other items of this budget are still ongoing. The island's defense ministry hopes that the signing of new contracts with the US for arms supplies will facilitate the acceleration of discussions and the adoption of the defense budget.

Taiwan has been governed by its own administration since 1949, when the remnants of the Kuomintang forces led by Chiang Kai-shek (1887-1975) fled there after losing the civil war in China. According to Beijing's official position, supported by most countries, it is one of the regions of the People's Republic of China. Washington severed diplomatic relations with Taipei in 1979 and established them with the PRC. While recognizing the 'One China' policy, the United States continues to maintain contacts with the Taipei administration and supply weapons to the island.

Source: TASS