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© TAIWAN AIR FORCE

RACE AGAINST TIME

As concerns grow over the backlog in delivery of U.S.-made
weapons to Taiwan, the U.S. moves to expedite the transfer

of necessary military equipment to the island

- By Arun Sivasankaran
ven his political opponents will not accuse U.S. President Joe both Raytheon and Lockheed Martin for selling
Biden of vacillating on the issue of the U.S. stepping in to mili- weapons to Taiwan.
E tarily defend Taiwan in the event of a Chinese invasion.
The US$619 million sale follows a US$1.1 billion
By sending arms to the country and walking alongside President arms package that the State Department
Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv during a surprise visit in February, approved for Taipei in September 2022. Included

President Biden has shown that he is steadfast in his support for in the deal were 60 Boeing-made Harpoon
Ukraine against Russian aggression. On the Taiwan issue, he has anti-ship missiles and 100 Sidewinder tactical
been even more forthright, affirming on multiple occasions that U.S. air missiles manufactured by Raytheon. The big-
forces would defend Taiwan if China decided to invade it. Not for him gest piece of the package piece is a US$665.4
the country’s long-held policy of “strategic ambiguity” on the issue. million contract to Raytheon Technologies for
providing logistical support for Taiwan’s existing
US intelligence believes that Xi Jinping, China’s leader, has ordered Surveillance Radar Programme. Raytheon will
the country’s military to be ready by 2027 to annex Taiwan. Recent provide minor modifications and upgrades to
naval and air force exercises by the Chinese military around the the system.
island indicate that the country would try to blockade Taiwan before
attempting to invade it. In the case of an invasion, the lack of ground The Biden administration has also approved
routes from neighboring countries to transport fresh weapons to the Taiwan’s request for 40 Vietnam-era M109
island will delay international military assistance. To get around the self-propelled howitzers and related equip-
situation, the Biden administration is working to accelerate ship- ment for delivery by 2025. The U.S. will deliver
ments of arms to Taiwan so that the country has enough weapons high mobility artillery rocket systems, including
to defend itself before its allies can come to its aid. 11 mobile launchers and 64 associated missiles,
by 2027. The administration has also approved
Deals Aplenty the sale of as many as 100 Harpoon land-
In March this year, the U.S. State Department approved the potential based coastal defence cruise missile launchers,
US$619 million sale to Taiwan of munitions for Lockheed Martin F-16 400 missiles, and 25 associated radars to the
fighter jets. Among the weapons are 200 anti-aircraft Advanced island. Also headed Taiwan’s way are four
Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) and 100 AGM-88B HARM MQ-9 high-altitude, long-endurance surveil-
missiles that can take out land-based radar stations. Both missiles lance drones and associated ground control
are made by Raytheon Missiles & Defence. China has sanctioned equipment.
34 | APRIL-MAY 2023 WWW.GBP.COM.SG/ADT