By Ben Blanchard and Roger Tung / Reuters, TAIPEI

Minister of National Defense Wellington Koo (顧立雄) today said he believed the US’ internal review process for the sale of a second arms package to Taiwan is proceeding on schedule.

A major US arms package for Taiwan worth about US$14 billion that includes advanced interceptor missiles is ready for US President Donald Trump’s approval and could be signed after his trip to China, Reuters reported last week, citing sources briefed on the discussion.

The trip was scheduled for early next month, but Trump yesterday said that he was seeking to delay it by about a month because of the Iran war.

Photo: Peter Lo, Taipei Times

Asked if the trip’s postponement could affect the new arms sales to Taiwan, Koo said that the government had been coordinating closely with the US.

“As we understand it, their internal review procedures are proceeding on schedule,” he said. “I don’t think we have received any related information indicating delays.”

China has repeatedly demanded an end to such sales.

Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) last month told Trump that arms sales to Taiwan must be handled with “prudence.”

The US, which in December last year unveiled a US$11 billion sale of weapons to Taiwan, has not formally ‌unveiled a second package.

Trump’s moves to secure a favorable trade deal with China have raised concerns among some China watchers that he could curb US military support for Taiwan.

The US has no formal diplomatic ties with Taipei, but is bound by law to provide Taiwan with the means to defend itself.

Taiwan, like other allies and partners in the region, has been watching with concern how the shifting of US forces to the Middle East from Asia could affect US readiness to deal with incidents involving China or North Korea, especially with weapons stockpiles being rapidly used in the Iran war.

Koo said that he could not comment on US operations and military deployments.

The military would continue watching developments around the Taiwan Strait, as well as across China as a whole, he said.

“Our main focus remains on observing the relevant indicators and signs and we will continue to pay close attention,” he said.

Department of Strategic Planning Director Lieutenant General Huang Wen-chi (黃文啟) yesterday told lawmakers that the delivery of 102 Lockheed Martin-made PAC-3 air defense missiles from the US was on track for this year.