US Senator Roger Wicker, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, has voiced support for moving toward joint weapons production between the United States and Taiwan.
Speaking in Taipei on Saturday, Wicker said future cooperation could include areas such as drone development. “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,” he said.
His comments followed a two-day visit during which he met Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te. A Taiwanese official, speaking on condition of anonymity, described weapons co-production with Washington as “very important” for the island’s defence strategy.
The visit drew condemnation from Beijing, which opposes official contacts between the US and Taiwan. China regards the self-governed island as part of its territory and has not ruled out using force to assert control.
Wicker’s trip comes as President Donald Trump’s administration imposes a 20% tariff on Taiwanese exports to the US. The senator stressed that the economic measures would not affect security cooperation, saying Washington remains committed to supporting Taiwan’s democratic rights.
While some lawmakers have cautioned that Trump’s trade negotiations with China could overshadow security concerns, US officials insist the administration is committed to regional security in the Asia-Pacific.
