Focus Taiwan
Date: 2019/06/27
By: Chiang Chin-yeh and Chi Jo-yao

Washington, June 26 (CNA) The United States is committed to a normalized process that will make

Taiwan a "normal" foreign military sales (FMS) partner, but there is no specific timing for any announcement, a U.S. official said Wednesday.

"We're going to treat Taiwan as a normal security systems partner," Randall Schriver, U.S. assistant secretary of defense for Asian and Pacific Security Affairs, said during a discussion held by the Heritage Foundation on the U.S. Indo-Pacific strategy, when he was asked to comment on reports that a proposed US$2 billion arms sales package to Taiwan has been put on hold for fear of angering Beijing ahead of a planned meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平).

Schriver said the United States is working very closely with Taiwan as a security partner under the Taiwan Relations Act and is making sure that Taiwan has the ability to defend itself, particularly at a time when Taiwan is facing more military pressure from China.    [FULL  STORY]