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Regardless of Taiwan paying billions of {dollars} to US protection producers, Washington has did not honor its contractual obligations and nonetheless has not delivered $14.2 billion value of army gear that the island nation has ordered since 2019, based on a Protection Information report printed on Thursday.
Sourcing a congressional staffer, the outlet concluded that the delay has occurred as a result of disruption of provide chains attributable to the Covid-19 pandemic.
In the meantime, some US lawmakers are involved that the delay in Washington’s protection shipments has put Taiwan’s safety at risk by undermining its skill to discourage a possible Chinese language invasion.
“We have to be sure that we offer Taiwan with the help that they want in order that they’re not susceptible to [Beijing’s aggression]. We finest not neglect about Taiwan as a result of China’s actions have been increasingly provocative,” said US Consultant Steve Chabot final week amid a particular assembly devoted to the three-year backlog.
In response to a spreadsheet obtained by Protection Information, Taiwan has paid $8 billion for 66 F-16 fighter jets however continues to be awaiting cargo of the plane. Different army gear promised however by no means delivered embrace Patriot missile system elements, Stinger missiles, heavyweight torpedoes, and high-mobility artillery rocket techniques. Taipei has additionally been left with out new reconnaissance pods and area data communications techniques.
Final week, Taiwan’s envoy to Washington, Hsiao Bi-khim, spoke to members of the US Home Overseas Affairs Committee and urged them to deal with the backlog. She has additionally referred to as on lawmakers to ask Taiwan to take part in often held American naval workouts off the coast of Hawaii.
Taiwan is an unbiased island nation situated within the Pacific Ocean, 95 miles away from continental China. Most international locations don’t have official diplomatic ties with Taipei since Beijing considers the island as part of its territory and is looking for its reunification with mainland China. The US has lengthy been dedicated to defending Taiwan’s independence.
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