Trump to deliver more weapons to Taiwan — Waltz

The president-elect will give the island all the defense systems it has paid for, the incoming national security adviser has said

US president-elect Donald Trump plans to increase the pace of American military hardware deliveries to China’s self-governed region of Taiwan, incoming national security adviser Mike Waltz has confirmed.

Speaking at the US Institute of Peace in Washington on Tuesday, Waltz, a Florida Congressman, stated: “We have over a $20 billion backlog of things that they paid for and that we need to work hard to free up and have them get what they paid for as a deterrent measure.” 

Waltz also reaffirmed that the next US administration will continue to pursue a “porcupine” policy regarding Taiwan. The strategy involves equipping the island with asymmetric defense capabilities, such as mobile missile systems, drones, and advanced surveillance technologies, that would raise the potential costs for mainland China if were to use force to take control of the territory.

Last week, Taipei’s Ministry of National Defense announced that it plans to deploy new US-supplied missile defense systems by the end of the year. The ministry said it will install Norwegian-made Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS) in strategically significant locations in the north of the island. 

Beijing considers Taiwan part of its territory under its “One China” principle, and insists on eventual reunification, including by force if necessary. It has repeatedly opposed any foreign interference on this issue, including US arms sales to Taiwan, viewing them as a violation of its sovereignty and a threat to regional stability.

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Taiwan has governed itself since 1949, when nationalist forces retreated to the island after losing China’s civil war. Only a handful of nations currently recognize the island’s sovereignty, and most of the world, including Russia, adhere to Beijing’s stance that Taiwan is part of the People’s Republic of China.

While the US officially adheres to the One-China policy, it has continued to supply arms to the island and engage in military cooperation with the government in Taipei.

Beijing has repeatedly condemned US arms sales to Taipei as destabilizing and provocative. In response, China has conducted frequent naval and aerial drills around the island.

Earlier this month, China imposed sanctions on seven US defense companies and slapped a dual-use export ban on US corporations including Boeing, General Dynamics, Lockheed Martin and Raytheon. The move came after outgoing US President Joe Biden authorized an additional $571 million in arms and supplies for the self-governing island in December.