Taiwan says US has not approached it about weapons transfers to Middle East

TAIPEI, March 10 (Reuters) – The United States has not approached Taiwan about transfers of weapons to the Middle East, Defence Minister Wellington Koo said on Tuesday, after South Korea said it was in talks about the possible redeployment of some U.S. Patriot missile systems.

South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said on Friday the U.S. and South Korean militaries are discussing the possible redeployment of some U.S. Patriot missile defence systems based in South Korea to be used in the war against Iran.

* Koo, speaking to reporters at parliament, said if any oftheir U.S.-made weapons were to be redeployed, that would onlyhappen if the U.S. side made a request. * Were that to happen, the U.S. would be responsible fortransporting them, he added. * “But so far, because of the U.S.–Iran war, they have notapproached us about making use of any of our related equipment,”Koo said. * The United States is Taiwan’s main arms supplier andTaiwan has Patriot missiles in its arsenal. * Democratically governed Taiwan is facing increasedmilitary pressure from China, which views the island as its ownterritory. Taiwan’s government rejects Beijing’s sovereigntyclaims. * Media reports citing South Korean government sources saidthe Patriot systems were being readied for redeployment in theMiddle East, with heavy U.S. military transport planes havingflown into Osan to move them.

(Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Kevin Buckland)