2024/06/19
The Ministry of National Defense issued a press release regarding "arms sales of combat unmanned aerial (drone) missile systems to Taiwan"
Press release of the Ministry of National Defense
Time: June 19, 2024 at 09:20
The Ministry of National Defense (MND)) stated today (19th) that on June 18, EST, the US Government announced that it would sell "combat drone missile systems" to Taiwan worth USD 360.2 million; the sale includes individual attack model (Switchblade 300) and anti-armor equipment (Altius 600M). The "Notification to Congress" procedure is still to be implemented.
Since combat drones (loitering munitions) have become a new tactical option in actual combat in recent years, the Armed Forces have resorted to military procurement and domestic manufacturing to acquire such arms to speed up combat power build-up in the context of limited production capacity worldwide. This approach can also help us establish multi-layer deterring capabilities as we combine the very arms with all kinds of quasi-mobile precision missiles.
Taiwan-US professional management teams have continued to work hard to improve the efficiency of arms sales operations between the two sides. The administrative review time of these particular arms sales was significantly shortened, and the MND would like to express special thanks to the US security cooperation team for their efforts in accelerating the arms sales to Taiwan.
Faced with frequent military operations of Communist China around Taiwan, the arms sales agreed to be sold by the US in this case comprise reconnaissance and immediate strike capabilities, and can also respond quickly to enemy threats. As viewed, the US government has operated based on the Taiwan Relations Act and the Six Assurances as it continues to assist us in improving asymmetric combat capabilities. Taiwan and the United States shall continue to consolidate the security partnership and jointly maintain peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and the wider Indo-Pacific region.
The MND emphasized that "war preparation avoids war, and war capabilities stops war," hence, peace and stability around the Taiwan Strait requires goodwill from the other side, and it is hoped that the Communist Party will stop oppressive military operations around Taiwan as we jointly contribute to the stability of the region.