Taipei: The United States has consented to Taiwan's request to delay the initial payment deadline for the High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), a crucial U.S.-made weapon system, as Taiwan grapples with a budget impasse. Defense Minister Wellington Koo announced this development during a legislative session, highlighting that the payment, originally due by March 30, can now be postponed until around May. This extension coincides with the U.S. expectation of finalizing a contract with a supplier for the US$4.05 billion HIMARS sale. According to Focus Taiwan, the deferred payment is just one part of a broader discussion between Taiwan and the U.S. concerning payment deferrals on three other weapons systems also approved for sale but facing similar budgetary constraints. These systems include the M109A7 self-propelled howitzers (valued at US$4.03 billion), TOW anti-tank missiles (US$353 million), and Javelin missiles (US$375 million). Together, the initial payments for all four planned purchases amou nt to approximately US$79 million. The U.S. announced the sale of HIMARS and the other three systems on December 17, 2025, as part of a comprehensive US$11.1 billion arms package. Following this announcement, letters of offer and acceptance (LOAs) were sent by the U.S. in early February and March. These LOAs, binding documents that confirm Taiwan's agreement to purchase the military equipment, required signing by March 15 and March 26, respectively, with subsequent initial payments for each system. The Taiwanese Legislature authorized the Cabinet to sign the LOAs just before the March 15 deadline, despite the absence of secured funding for the first payments. The ruling Democratic Progressive Party aims to fund most systems in the arms package and other significant defense needs through a NT$1.25 trillion supplementary budget. However, this plan is stalled due to insufficient support from opposition parties. The Kuomintang (KMT) and Taiwan People's Party (TPP), which together hold a majority in the Legisla tive Yuan, have introduced their own supplementary funding bills amounting to NT$380 billion and NT$400 billion, respectively, with no clear resolution in sight.