U.S. airmen stand by a U.S. Air Force drone in March 2016. Unmanned vehicles are considered key to deterring a Chinese attack on Taiwan. © Reuters
Nikkei Asia: U.S. defense industry plans first Taiwan trip in four years
Contractors to explore co-production of drones and ammunition
WASHINGTON — Around 25 U.S. defense contractors plan to send representatives to Taiwan in early May to discuss joint production of drones and ammunition, US Taiwan Business Council President Rupert Hammond-Chambers told Nikkei, as Washington explores various options to help bolster the island’s defenses.
The delegation will be led by Steven Rudder, the retired commander of the U.S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific. This would be the first large group of envoys focused specifically on the defense industry to visit Taiwan from the U.S. since 2019.
In addition to talks with representatives from the Taiwanese defense industry, it is looking to meet with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen.
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Update: US Arms Industry Planning First Taiwan Trip in Four Years (Antiwar.com)
WNU Editor: The U.S. arms industry may want to sell more weapons to Taiwan, but they should get rid of their backlog of arms deliveries to Taiwan first …. Slow arms deliveries to Taiwan blamed on US production bottlenecks (Defense News).