Taiwan Defense Minister: US Has 'High Urgency' in Speeding Arms Deliveries

Taiwan's Defense Minister Wellington Koo stated that the United States has 'quite a high' sense of urgency in helping Taiwan strengthen its military capabilities and is working to speed up delayed weapons deliveries, including the 66 F-16V fighter jets ordered in 2019. A delegation led by Deputy Defense Minister Hsu Szu-chien visited Lockheed Martin's F-16 assembly line in South Carolina on March 16 and viewed the first completed aircraft. The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency director confirmed a 2023 directive prioritizing Taiwan above all other arms buyers remains in effect.