Taiwan Ups the Ante: No New Arms Talks with U.S.

Taiwan clarified there are no current talks on arms sales with the U.S., despite President-elect Donald Trump's insistence that Taipei pay for its defense. While Taiwan strengthens its military presence amidst rising Chinese threats, it faces a $20 billion backlog in U.S. weapon orders.

Taiwan has stated that there are no ongoing talks regarding new arms sales with the United States. The statement comes in response to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's comments suggesting that Taiwan should pay for its protection, stirring concerns on the island.

Trump's suggestion has created uncertainty in Taiwan, which views it as a potential call for significant new arms deals early in his term. Despite media reports of impending major arms purchases, Taiwan emphasizes its commitment to enhancing its defense amid increasing Chinese military threats.

The Taiwanese presidency remarked that while there has been dialogue on military needs, no new stage of talks is underway. Additionally, Taiwan faces a backlog of $20 billion in weapon orders from the U.S., its primary ally for defense without formal diplomatic relations.

(With inputs from agencies.)