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The initiative would also aim to strengthen US arms production and speed up its transfer to Taipei.
US Considers Joint Weapons Manufacturing With Taiwan To Deter China
The US government is considering a plan to jointly produce weapons designed by Washington with Taiwan, according to sources familiar with the matter quoted by Nikkei.
The initiative The objective would be to strengthen the production of US weapons, accelerate the transfer of military material to the island and deter China from military action in the Indo-Pacific region. The project contemplates the possibility that American defense companies provide technology to manufacture weapons in Taiwan or that they manufacture them in the North American country using pieces made on the island.
Likewise, one of the people consulted by the media indicated that the initial discussions had already begun about joint production. However, another source added that they will take time and will probably continue in 2023.
For his part, Rupert Hammond-Chambers, president of the US Business Council – Taiwan, quoted by Reuters, reported that it had not yet been determined what type of weapons could be manufactured in the framework of the initiative, although it would probably focus on providing more ammunition and missile technology.
Initial Challenges
However , the opening of joint production lines presents several obstacles. First, any such decision would require weapons manufacturers to obtain co-production licenses from the US Departments of State and Defense, which may be denied due to the risk of classified leak.
Furthermore, it should be remembered that the rapid increase in arms supplies to Ukraine has made it difficult for Washington alone to meet the world demand for weapons. According to documents from the US Congress, obtained by Nikkei, the Administration of President Joe Biden has not completed the delivery of at least 10 Gun sales approved since July 2019, transactions that exceed 13.000 million dollars.
Nevertheless, US congressmen expressed last week their willingness to strengthen Taiwan’s defense and said they were willing to approve additional billions of dollars in military aid for the island.
Escalation of tensions
Tensions between the US and China over Taiwan intensified after the visit to Taipei by the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the USA, Nancy Pelosi, last August. In response, China launched a series of “unprecedented” large-scale military exercises and training activities, including live-fire drills, in sea and air space in six zones around the island.
In this context, the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, stated on Monday that “there has been a change in the approach from Beijing to Taipei in recent years” and that the Asian giant is “determined to achieve reunification in a much faster time”.
For his part, Chinese President Xi Jinping, in his opening speech at the 20th Communist Party Congress held last Sunday, reiterated his country’s commitment to advancing the process of peaceful reunification with Taiwan, although did not completely rule out the possibility of the use of force.
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