Taiwan will continue to remain in close contact with the US to help ensure arms sales are implemented as planned, a defence ministry official said on Wednesday, ahead of a meeting between US and Chinese leaders in Washington.
The US is Taiwan’s most important arms supplier, but Taipei has its own weapons development programme. Taiwan’s army on Wednesday showed off its new eight-wheeled armoured combat vehicle fitted with a 105mm gun, conducting live-fire exercises to demonstrate the capabilities of the domestically made weapon.
China views democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory and has repeatedly demanded US arms sales end. China has never renounced the use of force to bring Taiwan under its control. Taiwan's government rejects Beijing's sovereignty claims, saying only the Taiwanese people can decide their future.
While US President Donald Trump approved an $11 billion package for Taiwan in December, the largest ever, he said in May that a second package, worth about $14 billion, was being held back.
