00:02Patriot missiles launch into the sky above Taiwan, part of training to safeguard its airspace.
00:08This is one of the most critical weapons the country buys from the U.S.,
00:12but the latest purchase now faces uncertainty.
00:15The New York Times is reporting that U.S. President Donald Trump
00:18has put a 13 billion U.S. dollar arms package to Taiwan on hold.
00:23Key items affected are Patriots, anti-drone equipment, and NASMs.
00:28The announcement comes ahead of a planned meeting between U.S. President Trump
00:32and Chinese President Xi Jinping later this month.
00:35Taiwan's Foreign Ministry says it's keeping an eye on the situation.
00:39Foreign Ministry will continue to support the international cooperation
00:42and maintain a good communication with the Americans.
00:45Since the President of the United States,
00:48we will continue to support the support of Taiwan
01:00The move is already raising concerns about how it will affect Taiwan's military.
01:05Experts say it could hamper efforts to build a multi-layered air defense system,
01:09a proposed initiative known as the T-Dome.
01:12And it's worth noting that two of those systems, the Patriots and the NASMs,
01:18are explicitly under the T-Dome proposal proposed by President Lai.
01:22Delays in those systems would mean delays in T-Dome implementation,
01:27which are absolutely critical for Taiwan's air defense.
01:29Taiwan Plus reached out to the U.S. State Department and the American Institutes in Taiwan,
01:34which normally facilitate arms sales with Taipei.
01:37Both referred us to the White House,
01:39which has not yet responded to our request for comments.
01:43Trump's latest move has also raised questions about the U.S.'s commitment
01:46to the six assurances made to Taiwan in 1982.
01:50One of these states that the U.S. will not consult with Beijing on arms sales to Taiwan.
01:56U.S. State Department and the U.S. State Department and the U.S. State Department
02:25over a proposed special defense budget.
02:28The Lai administration has put forward a $40 billion U.S. plan spanning over eight years,
02:33but the proposal has faced pushback from the opposition.
02:37The smaller Taiwan People's Party has put forward an alternative budget
02:41worth only around a third of Lai's,
02:44while the main opposition Kuomintang is still debating its position
02:47ahead of the legislature's formal review of the bill.
03:00But the stalemate's over-defense funding is already having a tangible impact.
03:05In early February, the U.S. formally provided Taiwan with draft letter of offer and acceptance
03:10for three arms sales included in the special budgets, including follow-on purchases of tow missiles,
03:17additional Javelin anti-tank missiles, and Paladin self-propelled howitzer.
03:22The offers are valid until March 15.
03:25If the agreements are not signed before the deadline, those sales could be at risk.
03:46The risks include potential delays in getting the weapons, and increased cost.
03:52Taiwan's legislature is set to begin reviewing the special defense budget on Friday,
03:56and will consider all parties' proposals.
03:59But with billions of dollars of U.S.-made weapons on the line,
04:03and new uncertainty over the U.S.'s willingness to make a sale,
04:07the stakes are high.
04:08Howard Zhang and Ellen Liu for Taiwan Plus.
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