US lawmakers question Navy over bureaucratic delays for Taiwan weapons
- A US congressional committee highlighted the need for anti-ship Harpoon and SLAM-ER missiles, both of which the US agreed years ago to sell to Taiwan
- Time was running out to deter military action by mainland China toward Taiwan, Mike Gallagher and Young Kim said in a letter to the US Navy secretary
A US congressional committee questioned the US Navy on Thursday over what it called “alarming delays” in weapons deliveries to Taiwan, asking why production sometimes languished for months or years after purchasing deals were signed.
“Bureaucratic delays within the Navy are impeding the timely production and delivery of key weapons to Taiwan – including critical anti-ship missiles – and undermining efforts to prevent war,” the lawmakers wrote.
It took until April 2023 for the Navy to enter a contract for production of 400 ground-launched Harpoon missiles to Taiwan, the lawmakers wrote, noting that was two-and-a-half years after the defence department’s October 2020 announcement of the sale to Taiwan of the weapons. That risked putting delivery beyond 2027, the year US officials say is China’s target date to be ready to conduct an invasion.