Will the U.S. change its arms sales to Taiwan? Gu Lixiong: The United States supports Taiwan’s defense across party lines

The Finance Committee of the Legislative Yuan today (5th) reviewed the supplementary budget proposal for the central government's general budget for 2015. Defense Minister Gu Lixiong was present. (Photo taken by reporter Fang Bin)

The Democratic Party of the United States regained a majority of seats in both houses of Congress in the midterm elections. The Trump administration has yet to approve the US$14 billion arms sales to Taiwan, and the follow-up developments have attracted much attention. Defense Minister Gu Lixiong stated today (5th) that the U.S. Congress has always supported cross-party support for strengthening Taiwan's defense capabilities. The Department of Defense will continue to communicate with U.S. members of Congress and maintain close contact with the U.S. Department of War to ensure the implementation of relevant arms sales.

After U.S. President Trump visited China this year, arms sales to Taiwan totaling US$14 billion, or about NT$460 billion, continued to be delayed. Whether arms sales to Taiwan became a bargaining chip between the United States and China also aroused controversy. Eight cross-party U.S. senators jointly urged Trump to formally notify Congress of the arms sales in May this year, but the relevant procedures have not been completed so far. As the Democratic Party gained a majority in both houses of Congress in the midterm elections, the follow-up progress of this arms sales case has also become the focus of attention.

Seven committees including the Finance Committee of the Legislative Yuan held a joint meeting today to review the supplementary budget for the 2015 central government general budget. In response to the results of the U.S. midterm elections, the media asked before the meeting whether the Trump administration faced changes in Congress and whether it would have an impact on U.S. arms sales to Taiwan.

Gu Lixiong responded that the U.S. Congress has long supported the strengthening of Taiwan's defense capabilities regardless of party affiliation, and Taiwan will continue to communicate with members of the U.S. Congress. "We will also maintain close contact with the U.S. Department of War to ensure the implementation of these relevant arms sales."

In addition, a Chen lover at the National Defense Medical College alleged that she was sexually assaulted while she was a student. The school held a gender equality conference eight years later and found that the sexual assault was established. However, the perpetrator was only given two major demerits and was not expelled from school. Chen also questioned the school's negligence in handling the incident. Gu Lixiong said that according to his preliminary understanding, the case has entered the judicial process and been prosecuted, and the respondent has been suspended from his position as a doctor. As for the relevant procedures and handling, the Ministry of National Defense will learn more about it.