Taiwan parliament authorises signing of stalled $9 billion US arms deals | Reuters

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Taiwan parliament authorises signing of stalled $9 billion US arms deals

By Reuters
March 13, 202612:10 PM GMT+8Updated 23 hours ago
A High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) vehicle on display during an annual military exercise ahead of Lunar New Year in Taichung
Item 1 of 3 A High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) vehicle is on display during an annual military exercise ahead of Lunar New Year in Taichung, Taiwan, January 27, 2026. REUTERS/Ann Wang/File Photo
[1/3]A High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) vehicle is on display during an annual military exercise ahead of Lunar New Year in Taichung, Taiwan, January 27, 2026. REUTERS/Ann Wang/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab
  • Summary
  • Companies
  • Taiwan government wants $40 bln in extra defence spending
  • Opposition parties have stalled government proposals
  • Taiwan officials warn weapons orders could be severely delayed
TAIPEI, March 13 (Reuters) - Taiwan's parliament authorised the government on Friday to sign U.S. agreements for four arms sales ‌packages worth some $9 billion, after officials warned that Taipei would go to the back of the queue if it missed the deadline, sending the wrong message to Washington.
The back and forth on Taiwan's defence spending has provoked concern in the United States, as it is the most important international backer ​and arms supplier of the Chinese-claimed island, despite a lack of formal diplomatic ties.

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"This body upholds the principle ​of placing national security first and firmly defending territorial integrity," parliament speaker Han Kuo-yu said, reading ⁠the resolution, which passed unanimously.
He urged the government to submit a complete report on the weapons delivery schedule for parliament ​to review after it signs the letters.
The weapons covered include TOW anti-tank missiles, M109A7 self-propelled howitzers, Lockheed Martin-made (LMT.N), opens new tab Javelin missiles and ​the HIMARS multiple launch rocket system, worth around $9 billion in total and part of an $11 billion package Washington announced in December.
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President Lai Ching-te's government has tried to get parliament to pass $40 billion in extra defence spending but the opposition, which controls the most seats, says the proposals are unclear, ​and it cannot be expected to pass "blank cheques".
Both opposition parties drew up their own, cheaper alternatives, but the defence ministry ​said the letters of offer and acceptance for the weapons have to be signed with the United States by Sunday, or Taiwan risked ‌losing its ⁠place in the production and delivery queue.
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Parliament's formal authorisation on Friday came a day after lawmakers from both sides agreed that the government could sign the deals in advance, even if spending reviews were not approved in time.
Taiwan's defence ministry expressed its thanks for the authorisation, rejecting opposition claims the plans were opaque.
They were prepared through a "rigorous project approval process", it added, to ​meet the military's requirements.
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Ruling party ​lawmakers welcomed the approval.
"The advance ⁠authorisation to sign before the budget is reviewed is intended to ensure that Taiwan's acquisition of these important systems is not delayed or cancelled," said Wang Ting-yu, a Democratic Progressive Party ​lawmaker who sits on parliament's defence committee.
On Tuesday, Defence Minister Wellington Koo told reporters the ​letters of offer ⁠and acceptance for 82 HIMARS systems the U.S. announced as part of the $11-billion arms sale package for Taiwan would expire on March 26.
A second arms package, worth around $14 billion, could be approved for Taiwan after U.S. President Donald Trump visits Beijing later this month, sources told ⁠Reuters.
The Trump ​administration has pressed allies to boost defence spending, a plank Lai's government ​has embraced as China steps up drills and exercises around the island to press its sovereignty claims.
Taiwan rejects Beijing's claims, saying only its people have the ​right to decide the island's future.

Reporting by Ben Blanchard and Roger Tung; Editing by Lincoln Feast, Clarence Fernandez and Christian Schmollinger

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