Taiwan is considering buying a large package of American weapons, including an Aegis destroyer, to demonstrate to the new Donald Trump administration that the country is serious about strengthening its own defense against China.
The Financial Times reported this, citing its own sources.
Taiwan plans to buy a batch of weapons from the US
Taipei is likely to ask for Lockheed Martin ships and Northrop Grumman's E-2D Advanced Hawkeye radar system, Patriot missiles and F-35 fighter jets, according to several people familiar with the matter.
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— Taiwan is considering the package to show it is serious, — one former Trump administration official said.
A senior Taiwan national security official said there have been “informal discussions” with Trump's inner circle. about what kind of weapons package would demonstrate Taiwan's commitment to investing in its own defense.
Another Taiwanese official said Aegis would be at the top of the list. Su Tsu-yun, a senior research fellow at Taiwan's Defense Ministry think tank, said Taipei would likely ask for decommissioned Ticonderoga-class cruisers and Perry-class frigates.
Sources familiar with the talks say Taiwan could ask for up to 60 F-35 fighter jets, four Advanced Hawkeyes, 10 decommissioned warships and 400 Patriot missiles.The package is estimated to cost more than $15 billion.
During Trump's first term, Washington approved 11 arms packages worth $21 billion for Taiwan, including F-16 fighter jets and tanks Abrams.
China occasionally conducts military exercises near Taiwan. In October, Beijing said the exercises were a “warning of separatist actions by forces supporting Taiwan independence. The actions drew condemnation from the Taipei and U.S. governments.
