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2w ago

Wicker Says Joint Arms Production With Taiwan Is Feasible During Taipei Visit

China lodged a formal protest over the visit.

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U.S. Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS) attends a press conference following the U.S. Senate Republicans' weekly policy luncheon on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., U.S., June 10, 2025. REUTERS/Kent Nishimura/File Photo
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Overview

  • Senate Armed Services Chair Roger Wicker and Sen. Deb Fischer concluded high-level meetings in Taipei with President Lai Ching‑te and Defense Minister Wellington Koo during a two-day stop on their Indo‑Pacific tour.
  • Wicker said Taiwan "absolutely has the right to remain free" and emphasized stronger deterrence through closer military and defense‑industrial cooperation.
  • He said joint U.S.-Taiwan weapons production is feasible, calling for "suggestion and innovation" on how to pair industrial skills on both sides of the Pacific.
  • Beijing’s Foreign Ministry condemned the visit as undermining China’s sovereignty and demanded a halt to official U.S.-Taiwan contacts.
  • Taipei has proposed lifting 2026 defense spending above 3% of GDP with a target of 5% by 2030, while Wicker said ongoing U.S.-China trade talks will not weaken Washington’s commitment to Taiwan.