TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Ministry of National Defense (MND) listed four key accomplishments at the Taiwan-US Defense Industry Conference held last month in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
The defense ministry said the US repeatedly emphasized the strong and unwavering nature of bilateral relations during public sessions of the conference, CNA reported. US delegates expressed solid support for Taiwan, referencing recent pro-Taiwan legislation aimed at helping Taiwan maintain sufficient self-defense capabilities and ensuring its place alongside the US in the democratic alliance against China, the ministry said.
The MND explained that under the Taiwan Enhanced Resilience Act, the US facilitates faster military equipment procurement for Taiwan through mechanisms such as Foreign Military Financing and Presidential Drawdown Authority.
Regarding enhancing the resilience of the Taiwan-US defense industry, the MND noted that over 200 Taiwanese and US participants from government, industry, and academia attended the conference. With its technological capabilities, skilled workforce, and strong industrial base, there was a consensus that Taiwan could become a valuable partner for the US defense industry, leading to mutually beneficial development, MND said.
To deepen defense cooperation, Taiwan’s National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST) and private tech companies possess significant technical and production capabilities, MND said. The conference provided an opportunity for discussions with US defense contractors, further solidifying bilateral cooperation mechanisms and communication platforms, the ministry said. This will improve Taiwan’s defense industry and the implementation of its self-reliant defense policy, it added.
The MND said Taiwan clearly articulated its defense policy to the US and highlighted its high-tech defense production capabilities and intention to strengthen bilateral cooperation. The US reiterated its commitment to maintaining strong ties and using laws to help Taiwan acquire the necessary weapons and equipment for its defense needs.
The three-day conference addressed Taiwan’s defense challenges and the future of Taiwan-US defense cooperation. Vice Minister of National Defense Hsu Yen-pu (徐衍璞) led a delegation to the event.
