There are no new “stages of discussions” with the United States yet over arms sales, Taiwan's government said Monday, as the island considers how best to respond to previous ones. demands from US President-elect Donald Trump, who demanded that Taipei pay for its protection.
Mr. Trump, who won a second presidential term last week, troubled Taiwan, democratically governed and claimed by China, by saying it should pay the United States for its defense and that it had taken away companies from semiconductors to America.
Mr. Trump did not specify what he meant by “Taiwan must pay for its protection,” but it could mean that Taipei is taking the request seriously by striking major new arms deals early in his term. according to people familiar with the government's thinking.
Taiwan's presidential office, in a statement responding to what it said were media reports that the government was planning a major arms purchase from the United States, said that in the face of growing military threats from China, Taiwan and its neighbors continued to strengthen their defense deterrence.
This “demonstrates their determination to defend themselves by their own means.”
“There has been a period of consolidation and discussion between Taiwan and the United States on military needs, but there is no new stage of discussion at this time,” added the presidency, without giving more details.
Taiwan, which rejects China's sovereignty claims, has complained of a backlog of some $20 billion in weapons it has already ordered from the United States.
The United States is Taiwan's main financier and arms supplier, even without formal diplomatic ties, but there is no defense treaty, unlike with Japan and China. South Korea.
