Can direct commercial sales fix Taiwan’s US$20 billion weapons backlog?

US defense industry leaders are advocating for increased commercial cooperation with Taiwan to enhance its military capabilities. This push comes as Taiwan seeks quicker ways to strengthen its deterrence against growing military pressure from Beijing. However, these leaders cautioned that commercial deals cannot substitute traditional US arms sales, which are considered the foundation of Taiwan's defense. Speaking at the Taiwan-US Defense Industry Forum in Taipei, retired US General Charles Flynn and senior American executives aimed to address concerns on the island. Their remarks followed recent comments by US President Donald Trump, who characterized arms sales to Taiwan as a "good negotiating chip" in relations with Beijing.