U.S. arms sale to Taiwan includes howitzers and drones

TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Rupert Hammond-Chambers, president of the U.S.-Taiwan Business Council (美台商業協會), praised the Trump administration's second arm sales approval to Taiwan on Thursday (Dec. 18). Hammond-Chambers stated the M109A7 self-propelled howitzers and other systems would play a critical role in countering any Chinese military attempts to land on Taiwan's shores. The arms sales reflect the Trump administration's stance that partners and allies must invest more in their defense.

The U.S. approved eight arms sales to Taiwan, valued at over US$11.1 billion (around NT$349.65 billion), in a move aimed at bolstering Taiwan's military capabilities against Chinese threats. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency, a U.S. Department of Defense agency, confirmed on Dec. 17 that the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office, Taiwan's de facto embassy, in the U.S. requested these military items, including M109A7 self-propelled howitzers and drones.

Hammond-Chambers noted Taiwan's three major political parties continue to receive briefings on the foreign military sales program's contents and applications. Hammond-Chambers estimates this batch of arms sales might constitute about 50% of Taiwan's defense special budget under the FMS program, the U.S. Foreign Military Sales system. Hammond-Chambers pointed out the sales address conventional threats but do not tackle challenges like gray zone operations or blockades.

Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense highlighted five of the weapons systems fall under the special act on procurement for enhancing defense, resilience, and asymmetric capabilities. The ministry explained the U.S. has initiated the notification to Congress process, with formal enactment expected in a month. This procurement will proceed following the Legislative Yuan's (立法院), Taiwan's parliament, approval of the special budget. ◼ (At time of reporting, US$1 equals approximately NT$31.5)