The US-Taiwan Defense Industry kicked off in Richmond, Virginia on Sunday. This is the 21st event in a series of conferences focusing on defense cooperation between the US and Taiwan.
Among this year’s speakers is US State Department Director of the Office of Regional Security and Arms Laura Cressey, who oversees US arms sales to Taiwan. The Deputy Director for the Defense Security Cooperation Agency Jedidiah Royal will also be speaking.
Taiwan’s Deputy Defense Minister General Wang Shin-lung is leading a delegation to the conference. Over 170 people from the defense industry, think tanks and government agencies are expected to attend the three-day event.
The conference will discuss many facets of the evolving threat in the Taiwan Strait. It will examine the threat to Taiwan in light of the Russia-Ukraine war and what lessons can be learned. It will look at Taiwan’s defense planning and will also discuss non-traditional engagement efforts between the U.S. and Taiwan such as training, logistics, sustainment, and industrial cooperation.