US arms contractors arrive in Taiwan for defence forum
- Group to attend the Taiwan-US Defence Industry Forum and visit island’s top weapons builder and chief aerospace firm
- Former US Marine Corps Forces Pacific commander Steven Rudder expected to deliver opening address to closed-door gathering
The group, accompanied by former US Marine Corps Forces Pacific commander Steven Rudder, arrived in Taipei late on Monday. The visitors are expected to attend the Taiwan-US Defence Industry Forum, which will be held behind closed doors on Thursday, according to the semi-official Central News Agency.
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Rudder will address the opening of the forum, which has been jointly organised by the Taipei-based Taiwan Defence Industry Development Association and the Arlington-based US-Taiwan Business Council and will be attended by about 150 military experts and representatives from local and US defence companies.
Retired admiral Chen Yeong-kang, now a legislator from Taiwan’s main opposition Kuomintang party, will also deliver a keynote speech during the forum.
Topics to be discussed at the gathering include Taiwan’s domestic warship and warplane projects, drone development and advanced defence technologies and cooperation, CNA reported.
The group will visit Taiwan’s top weapons builder, the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology, and its chief aerospace company, Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation, to discuss potential cooperation on drones and defence technologies.
