Taiwan indicates US won’t dictate defence plans after business groups warn Washington is restricting arms sales

The island’s defence ministry says it buys weapons based on its needs and individual sellers ‘cannot influence our plans’

The statement was in response to claims by business lobby groups that the White House would only sell weapons that were suitable for asymmetric warfare

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Taiwan is developing asymmetric warfare tactics to counter any attack from mainland China. Photo: ZUMA Press

Published: 7:58pm, 18 May 2022

Taiwan has said it makes its own decisions about arms purchases and indicated it will not allow the US to dictate its plans to counter the growing military threat from mainland China.

The island’s defence ministry made the comments after US business groups criticised Washington’s policy on arms sales to the island, arguing that it was too restrictive and could not effectively deter an attack by the People’s Liberation Army.

In a statement released on Wednesday responding to the claims, Taiwan’s defence ministry said its arms purchases were chiefly based on the island’s needs.

“The military makes its own plans in acquiring various types of weapons and platforms based on the threats of the enemy and our joint operation planning,” it said.

“Only when we are not able to develop and produce or form the combat force we need swiftly will we purchase them from abroad, and no individual weapons dealer can influence our plans.”

On Tuesday a public letter by the US-Taiwan Business Council and the American Chamber of Commerce said the council had been told by US deputy assistant secretary of state Mira Resnick and her colleagues that the White House would no longer support arms sales for Taiwan outside their definition of “asymmetric” defence.