Taiwanese Premier Chen Chien-jen confirmed on Monday that the US and Taipei are in talks about establishing a contingency stockpile of weapons for a future fight with China located on or near the island of Taiwan.
“The proposal of regional contingency stockpiles is still in the negotiation process,” Chen said, according to The South China Morning Post.
The 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that President Biden signed into law in December included several measures to increase support for Taiwan, including the authorization to spend $100 million each year on a “regional contingency stockpile” of arms for Taiwan.
Chen said the US and Taiwan have been in talks on the issue since the NDAA became law. Beijing is strongly against the growing military ties between Washington and Taipei and launched major military exercises around Taiwan in response to Biden signing the NDAA.
Taiwanese officials won’t say if the plan is to establish the stockpile in Taiwan or at a US base elsewhere in the region, such as in Okinawa. If the stockpile is located in Taiwan, it likely wouldn’t be publicized over concerns of provoking a Chinese response.
According to the Taiwanese news agency CNA, the US has experience stockpiling weapons in Taiwan as it established depots on the island that were used in bombing missions during the Vietnam War. If the US re-establishes a stockpile in Taiwan, it would likely build a new facility or expand an existing one.
Source: AntiWar.
