Taiwan looking to buy US air defence system used in Ukraine war
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
A Nasams missile launcher is seen during production in Kongsberg, Norway.
PHOTO: AFP
Follow topic:
TAIPEI – Taiwan is looking to buy the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System, or Nasams, from the United States to upgrade its air defence capabilities, having seen how well it works in Ukraine, the island’s defence minister said on Tuesday.
China, which claims Taiwan as its own territory, has stepped up military and political pressure over the past three years to try to force the democratically governed island to accept Beijing’s rule.
Nasams has been provided by the US for use in Ukraine,
The system, developed and built by Raytheon Technologies and Norway’s Kongsberg Gruppen, is a short- to medium-range, ground-based air defence system that protects against drone, missile and aircraft attack.
Asked on the sidelines of Parliament about Taiwan buying Nasams, Defence Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng said “certainly” there is a proposal to get them.
“This work must be done in accordance with the enemy situation,” he said. “We have seen from the Russia-Ukraine war that these weapons definitely have good performance.”
However, Taiwan has not received any official notification from the US that they will sell Nasams to Taipei, Mr Chiu said. “But we need this work to be done as soon as possible.”
The US, Taiwan’s main foreign source of weapons, formally makes notifications to the island about the arms Washington is willing to sell.
The US is bound by law to provide Taiwan with the means to defend itself, despite a lack of formal diplomatic relations. China routinely denounces such arms sales.
Taiwan’s military has been paying close attention to the war in Ukraine for lessons on defending against a much larger opponent, for example, with the use of drones. REUTERS
