Press Release:
The US-Taiwan Business Council Comments on the Proposed Foreign Military Sales of MK 75 Gun Mounts and C4 Modernization to Taiwan

(Arlington, Virginia, December 21, 2024)

The US-Taiwan Business Council (USTBC) today welcomed the announcement of two possible Foreign Military Sales (FMS) to Taiwan of 16 MK 75 76 mm Gun Mounts and related equipment as well as Command, Control, Communications, and Computers (C4) modernization at an estimated total cost of US$295 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) delivered the required certifications notifying Congress of the two proposed Taiwan arms sales on December 20, 2024.

The first published Congressional Notification (transmittal number 25-01, US$30 million) includes 16 MK 75 76 mm gun mounts, non-MDE items such as shipping containers, and other related elements of technical, logistics, and program support. The second published Congressional Notification (transmittal number 25-04, US$265 million) includes 309 Multifunctional Information Distribution System Joint Tactical Radio Systems (MIDS JTRS) Variant 5 (V5) and assistance integrating them on Taiwan’s Patriot, HE-2K, P-3, and F-16 Block 20 platforms. Also included are communications equipment and services to modernize Taiwan’s Advanced Tactical Datalink System, as well as other related elements of logistics and program support.

USTBC President Rupert Hammond-Chambers commented, “In what is likely to be the conclusion of the Biden Administration’s approach to Taiwan security assistance, yesterday we saw two Congressional Notifications totaling US$295 million and addressing tactical data link system modernization and gun mounts for Taiwan’s ship programs. Additionally yesterday, the White House announced another tranche of Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA) for Taiwan totaling US$571.3 million.

 The past four years have seen the Biden Administration continue to pursue normalized security assistance toward Taiwan with a steady cadence of arms sales to the island. While the constant flow of support has material and political benefits, it has, regrettably, been overly narrow in response to the totality of the threat posed by China’s military forces. This non-escalatory approach fits the Biden Administration’s global strategy toward supporting partners and allies – including Israel and Ukraine.”

 Hammond-Chambers added, “In partnership with the U.S., Taiwan’s military and society have made significant progress towards improving the island’s defenses. Critically, the partnership has enhanced the deterrent capabilities of Taiwan’s military. Much has been achieved, in particular through the office of Jessica Lewis at the U.S. Department of State and Eli Ratner and Jed Royal in the Office of the Secretary of Defense. They and their staff are worthy of considerable commendation for their efforts to improve American national interest in and around Taiwan. We should all be deeply grateful for their achievements and the strong Taiwan relationship they will hand off to the incoming Trump Administration.

 Given the time it takes to formulate programs and move them through Executive and Congressional branch review, initial security assistance in 2025 will likely continue to reflect the Biden Administration’s approach until President Trump’s priorities start to work their way through the system. However, we can expect Taiwan President Lai Ching-te to be proactive in encouraging further growth in security assistance. He will likely present the incoming Trump Administration with an ambitious agenda, including increased spending, requests to purchase new platforms and systems, and expanding resources available for the Coast Guard, sustainment, and training.”

Source: See the DSCA website at https://www.dsca.mil/press-media/major-arms-sales

Additional Data:

For more details on Taiwan arms sales, please visit our dedicated defense website at www.ustaiwandefense.com. The post “Taiwan Arms Sales Notified to Congress 1990-2024” contains charts showing a summary of arms sales data by year as of this most recent sale, along with a link to the raw data compiled by the Council from DSCA and other sources.