The weapons approved are part of a $11 billion US arms package announced in December. The package aims to bolster Taiwan’s military capabilities against Chinese aggression.
The arms packages are part of an $11 billion arms deal announced by Washington in December.
Taiwan’s reluctance to increase defense spending has raised concerns in Washington. The US remains the Chinese-claimed island’s most important international backer and arms supplier.
What kind of weapons were approved?
The weapons include:
- TOW anti-tank missiles
- M109A7 self-propelled howitzers
- Lockheed Martin-made Javelin missiles
- HIMARS multiple launch rocket systems
“This body upholds the principle of placing national security first and firmly defending territorial integrity,” parliament speaker Han Kuo-yu said, reading the resolution, which passed unanimously.
Han urged the government to provide a delivery schedule so parliament can review it.
Taiwan’s Defense Ministry had warned opposition parties that if the weapons deals with the US were not signed by Sunday, Taiwan would risk losing its place in the production and delivery queue.
The Defense Ministry had defended the deals, saying they were prepared through a “rigorous project approval process” to meet the military’s requirements.