U.S. In Talks With Taiwan To Jointly Produce Weapons

Taiwanese Air Force soldiers prepare to load US-made Harpoon AGM-84 anti-ship missiles in front of an F-16V fighter jet during a drill at Hualien Air Base on August 17, 2022. Sam Yeh/ AFP  

Reuters: U.S. considering joint weapons production with Taiwan 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. government is considering a plan to jointly produce weapons with Taiwan, a business lobby said on Wednesday, an initiative intended to speed up arms transfers to bolster Taipei's deterrence against China. 

U.S. presidents have approved more than $20 billion in weapons sales to Taiwan since 2017 as China has ramped up military pressure on the democratically-governed island Beijing claims as its own territory. 

But Taiwan and the U.S. Congress have warned of delivery delays because of supply chain difficulties and backlogs caused by increased demand for some systems due to the war in Ukraine. 

"It's right at the beginning of the process," Rupert Hammond-Chambers, president of the U.S.-Taiwan Business Council, which counts numerous U.S. defense contractors as members, said of the plan. 

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WNU Editor: China has quickly responded to these reports of the US and Taiwan entering into talks to produce weapons together .... US plans to jointly produce weapons with Taiwan island in 'futile attempt' of obstructing reunification (Global Times). 

U.S. In Talks With Taiwan To Jointly Produce Weapons  

U.S. in talks with Taiwan to coproduce American weapons: sources -- Nikkei Asia  

US Mulls Joint Weapons Production With Taiwan As Deliveries Slowed By Ukraine War -- Zero Hedge US Considering Joint Weapons Production With Taiwan -- Defense Post  

US mulling 'all options' to aid Taiwan amid reports of arms co-production -- Anadolu Agency  

US-Taiwan joint weapons production plan likely to meet opposition -- RFA 

Foreign ministry reaffirms close Taiwan-US security ties -- Taiwan News