Taiwan is investigating the United States ‘dollars’ weapons market, sources have been informed about the issue, hoping to gain support from the new Trump government as China continues to exert military pressure on the island.

Three sources who know the situation, speaking to Reuters On the condition of anonymity, given the sensitivity of the situation, they told Reuters that Taiwan is in talks with Washington.

The package aims to show the United States that Taiwan is committed to its defense, one of the sources said.

A second source said the package would include coastal defense rockets and Himars missiles.

“I would be very surprised if it was less than $ 8 billion. Somewhere between 7 and 10 billion dollars‘the source added.

The White House did not respond to a request for commentary. However, US National Security Advisor Mike Valts He told Reuters that he wants to accelerate the delivery of weapons to Taiwan.

The Taiwan Ministry of Defense refused to comment on specific markets, but said it was focusing on building its defense.

“Any weapons and equipment that can achieve these targets for the construction of the army are referred to as targets”he said.

China claims that the democratically ruled Taiwan is its own territory and has never renounced the use of violence to put the island under its control. Taiwan strongly opposes China’s sovereignty and says that Only the inhabitants of the island can decide on their future.

Trump Relationships – Taiwan

US President Donald Trump has annoyed Taiwan with chips in his election campaign saying that the island stole US semiconductor companies. This month, he threatened with duties on the imports of chip.

But his government maintained a diplomatic support for the island claimed by China.

THE Donald Trump and the Japanese prime minister Sigeru Isiban They issued a joint statement on February 7, opposing any attempt to change the current situation in the straits of Taiwan by force or coercion. The US Foreign Ministry also removed a relevant text on its website that said it did not support Taiwan’s independence, a move praised by the island’s government. China urged the US to “Correct their mistakes.”

Taiwan plans to propose a special defense budget which prioritizes precision ammunition, air defense upgrades, administration and control systems, reserve equipment and anti-Drone technology, said a third source that knows the issue.

During his 2017-2021 term, Trump made regular gun sales in Taiwan, including many billion dollars agreements for F-16 fighter aircraft. The Biden government continued these sales, though often at lower prices.

Taivan officials see encouraging signs from the Trump government, even when duty threats are burdened with this optimism.

Taiwan does not believe Trump wants to make a ‘Great Agreement’ with the Chinese president Si Jing To sell out Taiwan’s interests, one of the sources said. Trump is more interested in imposing duties on semiconductors, the source said.

In another indication of US commitment to Taiwan, the top US diplomat in Taiwan, Raymond Greenhe will maintain his position, three sources in Reuters reported, even when other US diplomatic postings are undergoing major rearrangements.

A US Foreign Ministry spokesman said Green remains director of the US Institute in Taiwan, the US Embassy in Taipei.