Taipei [Taiwan], October 30: Taiwan is said to be about to receive up to 1,000 US-made unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), according to Bloomberg on October 29, citing informed sources.
According to Bloomberg, Taiwan could receive up to 1,000 attack UAVs from US arms manufacturer AeroVironment and US defense technology company Anduril Industries. The deal could help Taiwan increase its deterrence capabilities.
According to the source, Taiwan signed a "letter of offer and acceptance" in late September. The document is the final step before finalizing formal contracts, which will specify the exact number of UAVs, the cost in US dollars and the delivery time.
Spokespeople for the US State Department and Taiwanese representatives declined to comment on the information.
According to the Taipei Times , UAVs have developed into a major weapon of modern conflict. The Russia-Ukraine war and the conflict in the Gaza Strip are vivid examples of the application of UAVs on the battlefield. Former US Navy Rear Admiral Mark Montgomery said that this agreement shows that both Taiwan and the US have learned important lessons from the conflict in Ukraine and turned that knowledge into future purchases.
In another development, Director of the American Institute in Taiwan Ingrid Larson arrived in the island for a series of meetings aimed at strengthening bilateral partnerships. The American Institute in Taiwan announced that the diplomat's visit will take place from October 28 to November 1.
According to Reuters, citing a statement from the American Institute in Taiwan, the trip is part of the US's strong commitment to Taiwan and promoting the growing partnership between the two sides.
"While in Taiwan, Ms. Larson will discuss continued cooperation between the United States and Taiwan on issues of mutual interest such as regional security, mutually beneficial trade and investment, as well as people-to-people ties, education, and culture," according to the statement.
The visit comes at a time when Taiwanese officials are concerned about recent comments by former US President Donald Trump regarding the semiconductor industry.
"Taiwan, they stole our chip business. They want us to protect it and they want to be protected, they don't pay us to protect it," Trump said on "The Joe Rogan Experience" on October 28.
Trump's comments had an immediate impact on markets. Shares of the world's top chipmaker Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC) fell 4.3% on the US stock exchange (traded as American depositary receipts) on October 28, and fell 1% on the Taipei Stock Exchange on October 29.
Responding to Trump's remarks, Taiwanese leader Lai Ching-teh on October 29 emphasized that the US-Taiwan relationship is based on like-minded democratic partners, and believes that the US has a high bipartisan consensus on its relationship with the island.
Taiwan's economic affairs minister Kuo Jyh-huei said he respected the remarks of "international friends". "The relationship between the US and Taiwan has developed steadily over time and both sides have the same attitude towards Taiwan," Mr. Kuo said.
China has repeatedly strongly opposed cooperation between the US and Taiwan, considering it an infringement of sovereignty and interference in its internal affairs.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper