Taiwan's Ministry of Defense has asked the United States to postpone the deadline for payment for the first tranche of US HIMARS multiple rocket launcher systems, the sale of which Washington has already approved.
According to the Taipei Times, the request is based on the fact that financing for these systems "remains uncertain".
According to the newspaper, "the ministry has been instructed to seek US approval for a payment delay". However, even if the delay is granted, Taiwan "will still not be able to make the payment until the Legislature passes a special defense budget bill", the newspaper stressed.
The cost of the HIMARS systems ordered by Taipei is estimated at $4.05 billion. The island's authorities have not yet announced what percentage of this amount will be paid in the first tranche.