US Senator Roger Wicker backs future joint weapons development with Taiwan

US Senator Roger Wicker, chairman of the influential Senate Armed Services Committee and a strong supporter of Taiwan, stated on Saturday that he believed there will be future joint US-Taiwanese weapons development, something Taipei has lobbied for.

Despite the lack of official diplomatic connections, the US is Taiwan’s most major overseas sponsor and weapons supplier; however, no new arms deliveries have been reported since President Donald Trump took office earlier this year.

Wicker, a Republican, expressed optimism during a news conference in Taipei about the possibility of combined development of weaponry, particularly drones.

“I think there’s going to be joint production and joint efforts and that will depend on the skills present both on this side of the Pacific Ocean and ours, and actually we’re open to suggestion and innovation in that regard,” he said, at the end of a two-day visit where he met Taiwan President Lai Ching-te.

A Taiwanese official, commenting on the condition of anonymity, told reporters that weapon co-production was “very important”.

Wicker is one of the most vocal Taiwan advocates in the United States Congress. Beijing, which constantly condemns any expressions of support for Taipei from Washington, has denounced his visit, claiming that it opposes formal exchanges between Taiwan and the US.

He is in Taiwan at a time when the island is facing a 20% tax on exports to the United States as part of Trump’s broad new trade strategy that affects many other regions of the world.

Wicker pointed out that trade discussions were taking place all over the world.

“That in no way affects the defence alliance and friendship and determination that the United States has to be a friend to the sovereign rights of the Taiwanese people to enjoy their democracy,” he said.

His trip also takes place as some members of Congress – both Trump’s fellow Republicans and Democrats – have expressed concern that Trump is de-emphasising security issues as he works on negotiating a trade deal with China.

Administration officials have said that Trump remains fully committed to Asia-Pacific security matters as he pursues his trade agenda and a good personal relationship with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

China claims the democratically governed island as its own and has never renounced the use of force to bring Taiwan under its control. Beijing has stepped up military and political pressure against the island in recent years.