In a recent “US-Taiwan Defense Industry Conference,” Deputy Minister of National Defense of the Republic of China, Xu Yanpu, delivered a keynote speech on September 23. He urged the United States to assist Taiwan in quickly establishing essential military capabilities. This includes enabling Taiwan to obtain shared/licensed production rights similar to Japan and Australia, reviewing technology export regulations to accelerate Taiwan’s access to crucial technologies and components, and developing joint operational imagery.
At the conference, Xu Yanpu was accompanied by attendees such as Ingrid Larson, Executive Director of the American Institute in Taiwan, officials from the US Department of Defense and State Department, representatives from major US defense contractors like Lockheed Martin, as well as scholars from various think tanks.
According to the provided speech transcript, Xu Yanpu expressed the hope for US and allied assistance in accelerating Taiwan’s defense industry capacity building, emphasizing Taiwan’s commitment to safeguarding its own national security.
He emphasized that deepening defense industry cooperation between Taiwan and the United States can send a message to China that initiating hostilities against Taiwan would not be taken lightly, significantly increasing the uncertainty of China’s potential success in any aggression against Taiwan.
Xu Yanpu highlighted Taiwan’s advanced high-tech military capabilities and skilled workforce, as well as its strict information security measures and adherence to personnel and equipment safety standards. He expressed the desire for Taiwan to join the US defense supply chain, engage in bilateral defense industrial cooperation with both the public and private sectors of the US, and enhance deterrence capabilities.
Furthermore, Xu Yanpu called for the United States to consider expanding cooperation by increasing exports of F-16 maintenance and spare parts, drones, and other capabilities to Taiwan. He proposed a mutual agreement that would allow Taiwan to engage in shared/licensed production as Japan and Australia do, aiming to accelerate the delivery of military equipment, ensure logistical support and the supply of ammunition and spare parts, and enhance defense resilience.
He also stressed the importance of the United States continuing to implement diverse channels for arms procurement, actively seeking alternative partners to supply similar equipment to Taiwan if original delivery schedules are not met.
Moreover, Xu Yanpu highlighted the challenges posed by the lengthy and complex US technology export control procedures, which slow down Taiwan’s ability to acquire crucial technologies and components necessary for research and development. He called for a review of relevant laws and a streamlining of review processes to facilitate Taiwan’s rapid access to mature technologies and critical components, thereby expediting the development of essential military capabilities.
Xu Yanpu emphasized Taiwan’s focus on developing autonomous systems within its defense industry, while utilizing market mechanisms for subsystems and key modules, encouraging participation from both domestic and foreign manufacturers. He welcomed US companies to join this partnership.
Looking ahead, Xu Yanpu expressed Taiwan’s aspirations to establish bilateral networking systems with the US, ensuring compatibility between military equipment and weapon systems. For example, sharing target information detected by US forces through data links to Taiwan’s command and control system to strengthen real-time situational awareness and construct a “joint operational imagery.”
He underscored that the threat posed by China to Taiwan is a threat to the world, emphasizing the necessity for democratic countries to cooperate closely. Xu Yanpu expressed hope for deepening exchanges between US and Taiwanese scientific research units, while assisting Taiwan in communication and dialogue with democratic allies.
In conclusion, Xu Yanpu emphasized Taiwan’s role as a stabilizing force for global peace and its willingness to collaborate with like-minded countries such as the United States to uphold world order and strengthen the resilience of high-tech industrial supply chains.
Xu Yanpu also outlined President Lai Ching-te’s defense strategy of enhancing Taiwan’s deterrence capabilities and establishing essential national defense capabilities, which includes plans to increase the defense budget. The upcoming budget for the Ministry of National Defense, including special allocations and special funds, will reach $20.2 billion, representing a growth of approximately 7.7% from the previous year and setting a new record. Future considerations for government finances and policy planning will prioritize “continuously increasing defense spending.”
The US-Taiwan Defense Industry Conference, organized by the US-Taiwan Business Council, is in its 23rd year and was held from the 22nd to the 24th of the month. On the evening of the 23rd, Jedidiah Royal, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs, is scheduled to deliver a closed-door speech.
(Source: Central News Agency)