A Defense News report released on Thursday said that despite Taiwan having paid US defense companies billions of dollars, Washington failed to honour its contractual obligations. The US has yet to deliver $14.2 billion of military equipment ordered by Taiwan since 2019, which is according to the Defense News report.
According to a source, the congressional staffer concluded that delays were caused by disruptions to supply chains due the Covid-19 epidemic.
Meanwhile, some US lawmakers are concerned that the delay in Washington’s defense shipments has put Taiwan’s security in danger by undermining its ability to deter a potential Chinese invasion.
“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]. We best not forget about Taiwan because China’s actions have been more and more provocative,”Last week, US Representative Steve Chabot spoke out during a meeting that was dedicated to the three year backlog.
Defense News has obtained a spreadsheet showing that Taiwan paid $8 billion for the 66 F-16 fighter planes. The aircraft are still in transit. Patriot missile systems components, Stinger missiles and heavyweight torpedoes are some other military equipment that was promised but not delivered. Taipei was also left without field information communication systems and new reconnaissance pods.
Last week, Taiwan’s envoy to Washington, Hsiao Bi-khim, spoke to members of the US House Foreign Affairs Committee and urged them to address the backlog. Her request to lawmakers was to invite Taiwan to take part in regular American naval exercises held off Hawaii’s coast has been also accepted.
Taiwan, an island country in the Pacific Ocean 95 miles from mainland China is independent. Since Beijing regards Taiwan as part of its territory, most countries don’t have diplomatic relations with Taipei. The United States has long been committed to protecting Taiwan’s independence.
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