Taiwan has signed six new major arms purchase agreements with the US, totaling more than 208.77 billion Taiwan dollars (approximately 6.6 billion US dollars). According to the news portal Focus Taiwan, the agreements were signed in April.
According to the portal, these agreements provide for the supply of US HIMARS multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) worth NT$123.5 billion (US$3.9 billion), M109A7 Paladin self-propelled howitzers worth NT$73.89 billion (US$2.3 billion), and replenishment of the ground forces' missile arsenal worth NT$5.32 billion (US$168 million).
The remaining three contracts include the purchase of naval missiles worth NT$5.13 billion (US$162 million), the joint Taiwanese-American production of large-caliber ammunition worth NT$910.45 million (US$29 million), and consulting services related to an integrated air defense system worth 22.87 million NTD ($726,000 USD).
Earlier, Taiwan's Executive Yuan (the highest executive body) proposed to the island's legislature a special defense budget of NTD 1.25 trillion (approximately US$40 billion) to cover the acquisition of domestic and foreign weapons systems over the next eight years.
However, opposition parties demanded more details and were only able to approve NTD 400 billion for weapons purchases. Discussions on other items in this budget are ongoing.
The island's Defense Ministry hopes that the signing of new arms contracts with the United States will help speed up the discussion and adoption of the defense budget.