Former US Defense Official: Taiwan on Right Track for Defense Reform; US Improving Arms Sales Process

Former US Assistant Secretary of Defense for East Asia, Heino Klinck, lauded Taiwan's proactive stance against the escalating threat from China. During an exclusive interview with Liberty Times, Klinck affirmed that Taiwan's government and populace are demonstrating a more serious commitment to national defense, citing initiatives such as the Han Kuang military exercise, the development of societal resilience, and the allocation of special defense budgets as evidence.

Klinck emphasized that Taiwan's progress is not a one-time effort but requires sustained commitment. He noted that Taiwan's defense budget, aiming for 5% of GDP, and its focus on indigenous defense production and reserve force reforms, align with the necessary steps for bolstering security. He also highlighted the importance of public willingness to make sacrifices, whether through tax allocation or participation in societal resilience programs, underscoring that national defense is foundational to economic strength and global competitiveness.

Addressing concerns about delays in US arms sales to Taiwan, Klinck candidly admitted that the US defense industry needs improvement in delivering systems on time and within budget. He revealed that the Trump administration has prioritized reforming the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) system, aiming to align it with domestic procurement processes. This reform seeks to create economies of scale and reduce costs by integrating foreign demand with US military production, a move he described as "unprecedented" in addressing the acknowledged flaws in the US acquisition system.