United Evening News -Taiwan
January 5, 2005
The United States is planning to buy hundreds of millions of bullets from Taiwan in the first such deal as its supplies are running low after wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, a report said Thursday. Citing Taiwanese military sources, the United Evening News said Washington had made the request to acquire some 300 million 5.56 NATO ammunition for rifles for an estimated two billion Taiwan dollars (62.5 million US).
The deal was yet to be finalized pending price negotiations, it said.
An unnamed general quoted by the paper said it would be the first time for Washington, Taiwan's leading arms supplier, to acquire arms from the island.
In line with its usual practice, Taiwan's defense ministry declined to comment on the report.
Taiwan produces some 400 million such 5.56 NATO rounds annually, according to the paper. It added most rifle ammunition is manufactured by an arsenal in southern Kaohsiung which has storage problems due to declining demand in the absence of any military conflict across the Taiwan Strait.
The paper also said Taiwan had exported T-91 rifles to several countries in Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Eastern Europe.
Washington Wednesday agreed to sell air-to-ground Hellfire missiles worth 50 million US dollars to Taiwan to help the island defend itself against threats from rival China.
"The US Army has executed a letter of agreement with Taiwan, setting the stage for the sale of more than 400 AGM-114M blast-fragmentation Hellfire rounds under a foreign military sales contract," US defense giant Lockheed Martin Corporation said.
It would take the company about six months to make the Hellfire missiles ordered by Taiwan.
The missiles will be mounted on Taiwan's Super Cobra AH-1W attack and OH-58D Kiowa Warrior scout helicopters.
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Taiwan ships 1 billion bullets to United States: report
AFP ^ | 06 Nov 2007 | AFP
Posted on 11/07/2007 7:54:06 AM PST by BGHater
TAIPEI, Taiwan -- Taiwan has shipped one billion rifle bullets to the United States for NT$560 million in a rare arms sale to the United States, it was reported yesterday.
The 5.56 mm bullets are mainly used to replenish supplies which have run low after wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, the Taipei-based China Times reported, citing a military source.
Taiwan's defence ministry last year beat off competition from the likes of Singapore and South Korea to win the five-year contract from a U.S. military subcontractor, it was reported.
In a separate deal, the China Times said the Taiwanese Army plans to purchase 60 UH-60M Black Hawk transport helicopters from Washington for NT$71.7 billion.
The US is the leading arms supplier to Taiwan -- something China objects to -- with Beijing regarding the island as part of its territory awaiting reunification, by force if necessary.
Taiwan has been seeking more advanced weaponry amid China's repeated threats to invade.
Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian last week accused China of provoking the island by targeting it with nearly 1,000 missiles.
Tensions between Taipei and Beijing escalated since the independence leaning leader was elected president in 2000. He was narrowly re-elected in 2004..........................................................................................................................................................................
Taiwan ships 1 billion bullets to United States: reportPosted: 2007/11/08From: Source  |
| In a rare arms sale to the United States, Taiwan has shipped one billion rifle bullets to replenish supplies which have run low after wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. TAIPEI, Taiwan -- Taiwan has shipped one billion rifle bullets to the United States for NT$560 million in a rare arms sale to the United States, it was reported yesterday. The 5.56 mm bullets are mainly used to replenish supplies which have run low after wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, the Taipei-based China Times reported, citing a military source. Taiwan's defence ministry last year beat off competition from the likes of Singapore and South Korea to win the five-year contract from a U.S. military subcontractor, it was reported. In a separate deal, the China Times said the Taiwanese Army plans to purchase 60 UH-60M Black Hawk transport helicopters from Washington for NT$71.7 billion. The US is the leading arms supplier to Taiwan -- something China objects to -- with Beijing regarding the island as part of its territory awaiting reunification, by force if necessary. Taiwan has been seeking more advanced weaponry amid China's repeated threats to invade. Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian last week accused China of provoking the island by targeting it with nearly 1,000 missiles. Tensions between Taipei and Beijing escalated since the independence leaning leader was elected president in 2000. He was narrowly re-elected in 2004. |
