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.
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 that the plans were opaque.
They were prepared through a “rigorous project approval process”, it added, to meet the military’s requirements.
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 US announced as part of the US$11-billion arms sale package for Taiwan would expire on Mar 26.
A second arms package, worth around US$14 billion, could be approved for Taiwan after US 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.
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/east-asia/taiwan-us-arms-deals-parliament-us9-billion-5991016
