DEFENSE / U.S. planning new rules to expedite defense tech transfers: Business group

Ellicott City, Oct. 21 (CNA) The U.S. government is expected to release new guidelines to help expedite transfers of defense technology to its partners, including Taiwan, the head of the US-Taiwan Business Council said Tuesday.

The revisions to defense and state department guidelines seek to expedite "consideration and then releasability" of defense tech products, Rupert Hammond-Chambers said, without elaborating, at the annual U.S.-Taiwan Defense Industry Conference in Ellicott City, Maryland.

Speaking to reporters, Hammond-Chambers said defense manufacturers delivering their orders on time is an issue stressed by both Taiwan and U.S. representatives at the three-day conference, which began on Sunday.

He warned, however, that co-development and co-production of weapons -- which some, including U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, have recently spoken in favor of -- will not provide a quick solution to delayed arms sales.

"If you need things quickly, the logical thing to do is buy something off the shelf. If you have time, then you can ask for a tech transfer" to take that technology and adapt it for your purposes, he said.

Hammond-Chambers also previewed what arms purchases Taiwan could make under its 2026 defense budget, as well as a special defense budget of up to NT$1 trillion (US$32.53 billion) that it is expected to be announced next month.

Taiwan will likely seek technology related to the T-Dome -- a multi-layered air defense system recently proposed by President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) -- as well as asymmetric capabilities, Hammond-Chambers said.

Given the volume of spending available, Taiwan "will also have opportunities to address gray zone and blockade" concerns, and acquire more traditional platforms, such as mobile artillery and helicopters, he said.

On the political front, Hammond-Chambers downplayed the possibility of a U.S. policy change if President Donald Trump meets with Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平).

Beijing has reportedly been pushing the U.S. to change its official policy to state that it "opposes," Taiwan independence, rather than merely "not supporting" it.

On such topics, the U.S. and China tend to "talk past each other," with each side stating its demands, before moving onto issues that they may make some headway on, such as tariffs and a trade deal, Hammond-Chambers said.