Taiwan risks Beijing’s anger after setting date for arms sales meeting with US
Mainland authorities have long pushed for end to defence review where Taipei submits list of weapons it wants to buy from America
Taiwanese and US military officials will meet next month to discuss Taiwan’s shopping list of arms that it hopes to acquire from the United States, in a move sure to anger Beijing.
Defence Minister Feng Shih-kuan revealed the timing of the defence review meeting at a legislative committee session on Wednesday, but he did not specify when and where it will take place.
The meeting, which has been held since 2003, is the official channel for the Taiwan government to submit its list of arms it intends to procure from the United States.
It will be first time for the administration of President Tsai Ing-wen, of the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party, to submit such a list since she took office in May last year.
Under the Taiwan Relations Act enacted by the US Congress after Washington broke diplomatic ties with Taipei and established them with Beijing in 1979, the US government is legally obliged to provide
Taiwan with weapons to enable it to maintain sufficient self-defence capabilities.
Beijing has long sought to end the practice.