TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's national chief addressed Taiwan's strategic principles for arms purchases from the U.S. on Wednesday (Nov. 13), emphasizing the focus on asymmetric warfare, enhancing combat resilience, boosting reserve forces, and effectively addressing gray zone threats.
Defense Minister Wellington Koo (顧立雄) responded to foreign media reports about Taiwan's consideration of a large-scale arms purchase from the U.S., amounting to NT$500 billion. The reports questioned whether Taiwan was paying a protection fee in advance. Koo clarified that Taiwan will propose its desired procurement projects through the existing institutional exchange mechanisms between Taiwan and the U.S. without first making them public.
Koo reiterated that the Ministry of National Defense (國防部) and the Presidential Office (總統府) share a consistent stance on military procurement, adhering to established exchange mechanisms. Regarding the types of weapons to be acquired, Koo stated that Taiwan would consider both operational needs and financial forecasts, focusing on the four main areas before communicating with the U.S.
He assured that communication and proposals for necessary weaponry would continue under the existing military exchange mechanisms with the future Trump administration.