Taiwan’s Defense Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng has said that Taipei will abandon its plan to purchase new US anti-submarine warfare helicopters produced by Lockheed Martin Corp, saying they were excessively pricey.
“The price is too high, beyond the scope of our country’s ability,” the island’s defense chief said at a parliamentary hearing on Thursday.
Local media, however, have reported that Washington rejected the sale, in the belief that it was not in line with the island nation’s needs.
Washington has not fulfilled its contractual obligations previously to Taiwan.
Taipei has ordered $14.2 billion of US military equipment since 2019, despite lavishing money to American defense producers.
Recent delays include mobile Stinger antiaircraft missiles and Howitzer artillery system. These are highly sought-after as Washington sends new Stingers to Ukraine as part of its military assistance.
But as Washington continues bolstering Kiev with arms, some American lawmakers are increasingly concerned over Taiwan’s security and its ability to stand up to China, which considers it part of its territory.
“We need to make sure that we provide Taiwan with the assistance that they need so that they’re not vulnerable to [Beijing’s aggression],”Last month, Steve Chabot, a US representative (R-Ohio), stated these words.
The United States has long been committed to protecting Taiwan’s independence. Many countries, including the US have no diplomatic relations with Taipei because Beijing views the island as part of their territory. It is seeking to reunite the two nations.
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