"미국, 대만에 순항미사일•드론 등 무기 7종 한번에 판매 계획"
The U.S. is pushing to UP ITS arms sales to Taiwan,... as part of an effort known within the Pentagon as 'Fortress Taiwan' to establish a strong military counterbalance to China.
Kim Hyo-sun tells us more.
Washington is reportedly set to sell as many as seven major weapons systems to Taiwan,... as the Trump administration moves to intensify pressure on China.
Citing multiple sources,... Reuters reported Wednesday that the package includes mines, cruise missiles and drones manufactured by American defense contractors such as Boeing and Lockheed Martin.
It explained the latest plan is a stark contrast to the past practices of U.S. military sales to Taiwan that have been spaced out and carefully planned to minimize tensions with Beijing.
The article added the move is not only in line with the Trump administration's ongoing tensions with China but also as Taiwan has expressed its intent to buy American weapons,... especially after the re-election of President Tsai Ing-wen early this year.
Against this backdrop, a senior Pentagon official said Taiwan is moving in the right direction by increasing defense spending,... but urged the island to do more.
Speaking during a virtual meeting hosted by the U.S.-based think tank, Global Taiwan Institute,... David Helvey, assistant secretary of defense for Indo-Pacific security affairs, elaborated that Taiwan faces a real threat from Beijing.
While tensions are mounting between Washington and Beijing,... the U.S. Under Secretary of State is set to visit Taiwan on Thursday,... during which he will sit down with senior officials.
The visit by Keith Krach, one of the six under secretaries in the State Department, will be the highest-ranking official from the department to visit Taiwan since the U.S. cut formal diplomatic ties with Taipei in 1979.
Kim Hyo-sun, Arirang News.
