South Korea Assures U.S. on Trade Deal Commitments Amid Tariff Concerns 
Pentagon Ends Military Education Programs With Harvard University 
Trump Backs Nexstar–Tegna Merger Amid Shifting U.S. Media Landscape 
Ohio Man Indicted for Alleged Threat Against Vice President JD Vance, Faces Additional Federal Charges 
Trump Endorses Japan’s Sanae Takaichi Ahead of Crucial Election Amid Market and China Tensions 
TrumpRx Website Launches to Offer Discounted Prescription Drugs for Cash-Paying Americans 
U.S. to Begin Paying UN Dues as Financial Crisis Spurs Push for Reforms 
New York Legalizes Medical Aid in Dying for Terminally Ill Patients 
Nighttime Shelling Causes Serious Damage in Russia’s Belgorod Region Near Ukraine Border 
Federal Judge Restores Funding for Gateway Rail Tunnel Project 
Iran–U.S. Nuclear Talks in Oman Face Major Hurdles Amid Rising Regional Tensions 
Trump Lifts 25% Tariff on Indian Goods in Strategic U.S.–India Trade and Energy Deal 
NATO to Discuss Strengthening Greenland Security Amid Arctic Tensions 
Missouri Judge Dismisses Lawsuit Challenging Starbucks’ Diversity and Inclusion Policies 
Japan Election 2026: Sanae Takaichi Poised for Landslide Win Despite Record Snowfall 
Trump Signs “America First Arms Transfer Strategy” to Prioritize U.S. Weapons Sales 
Norway Opens Corruption Probe Into Former PM and Nobel Committee Chair Thorbjoern Jagland Over Epstein Links 
With the ongoing conflict in Ukraine raising concerns about the tensions surrounding Taiwan and the region, Taipei has looked to bolster its defenses. The island nation is now looking for alternative military weapons as the US has informed them of a delay in delivering howitzer artillery systems.
Reuters reports that Taiwan’s defense ministry said Monday that it will look for alternative options in terms of military weapons as Washington has informed them that there will be a delay in its delivery of howitzer artillery systems because of a “crowded” production line. This comes as the US approved the sale of 40 155mm M109A6 Medium Self-Propelled Howitzer artillery systems to the island nation last year in a deal worth $750 million that was expected to be delivered by 2023.
However, due to the crowded production lines for the type of howitzer that was sold, the US said that the delivery would be delayed until 2026 at the earliest, according to the island nation’s defense ministry. No reason was given for the delay, but this also comes amidst the ramped-up efforts by Washington to assist Ukraine in its war against Russia.
The island nation will be looking for other options in terms of precision and long-range weapons systems including truck-based rocket launchers made by Lockheed Martin, also known as the High Mobility Artillery System or HIMARS.
Taiwan, under the leadership of Tsai Ing-wen, is going through a military modernization program to improve its defense capabilities out of fears of a possible invasion by China. The US has pushed for the island nation to bolster its defenses to make it hard for China to launch an offensive. The US is under a treaty to provide arms to Taiwan, and its arms sales always draw the ire of Beijing.
A top officer said that the island nation’s military drills this year will draw on what is happening in Ukraine, according to a report by Reuters. The military drills in Taiwan will focus on asymmetric and cognitive warfare, including the use of reserves in its practices in fending off an attack by China.
The island nation has raised the alert levels as of late due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and has raised concerns that Beijing may do the same. Despite the concerns, there have been no indications that such an invasion may happen yet.
