Recent revelations of a US defence contractor overcharging Taiwan by hundreds of millions of dollars have raised concerns about the island being taken advantage of. The issue was brought to light after a federal audit of RTX (formerly Raytheon Technologies) uncovered the price gouging.
Further investigations revealed that Taiwan had been significantly overcharged for military systems in 2017 and 2013. The Taiwanese government was accused of concealing these actions at the request of the US, its primary weapons supplier.
Despite these accusations, the Taiwanese defence ministry has acknowledged the situation and pledged to return the improperly gained funds as part of a plea agreement between the US Justice Department and RTX.
This controversy comes at a sensitive time, coinciding with National Day celebrations in China, adding to the tensions between the involved parties. Taiwan is now facing scrutiny for its relationship with the US and its handling of defence contracts.