Taiwan may pay ‘unthinkable’ price for accepting free US weapons, says former defense minister

Former Taiwanese defense minister Feng Shih-kuan has warned that the island will pay a price for accepting free weapons provided by the United States, Report informs, citing South China Morning Post.

“If you suddenly receive such free aid, you need to pay a certain unthinkable price,” Feng told reporters on Thursday when asked to comment on the plan.

Earlier this month, the White House said it would send US$500 million worth of free military aid to Taiwan after deliveries of American weapons, including Stinger missiles and F-16V fighter jets, were delayed.

The US authorized the sale of 250 Stingers to Taiwan in 2019 but the shoulder-mounted missiles have been in demand in Ukraine.

Taiwan’s Defence Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng said last Monday that the US had been in talks with the island for several months over the type of free weapons that would be provided.

A Taiwanese military source said the package of free weapons would include portable Stinger anti-aircraft missiles, TOW 2B Aero anti-tank missiles, and new Javelin mid-range anti-armor missiles.