Trump Code Guessing?... Taiwan Considers US Weapon Purchase Worth 10~14 Trillion Won

Taiwan Demonstrates Commitment to National Defense
Waltz Hopes for Rapid Delivery of Weapons to Taiwan

Taiwan is reportedly pushing to purchase billions of dollars worth of weapons from the United States in order to gain support from the Trump administration, according to a report by the South China Morning Post (SCMP) on the 17th (local time). This is interpreted as a strategy to ease pressure as President Trump pressures Taiwan's semiconductor industry and China's military pressure continues.

According to Reuters, SCMP, and three sources familiar with the matter, Taiwan is considering purchasing U.S.-made weapons such as coastal defense cruise missiles and High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), with the amount expected to be between $7 billion and $10 billion (approximately 10.1 trillion to 14.4 trillion KRW).

One of the sources said that the scale of Taiwan's weapons purchase would be "between $7 billion and $10 billion, and it will exceed $8 billion." Another source said that this weapons purchase is intended to show the United States that Taiwan is committed to its own defense.

Additionally, Taiwan plans to propose a special defense budget to prioritize acquiring precision ammunition, air defense upgrades, command and control systems, reserve forces equipment, and anti-drone technology.

The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment, but Reuters reported that Mike Waltz, the White House National Security Advisor, said he wants to deliver weapons to Taiwan quickly.

Earlier, Taiwanese media reported citing sources that the Taiwan Army, Navy, and Air Force are pushing to purchase weapons worth about 107 billion Taiwan dollars (approximately 4.7 trillion KRW), including 155mm M109A7 self-propelled howitzers, 10 MH-60R (Seahawk) maritime operation helicopters, and 6 E-2D Hawkeye early warning aircraft.