The Most Lucrative Market for Obsolete Weapons
By Lin Chun-ta
United Daily News, October 31, 2020
Lately the Ministry of National Defense (MND) verified that it will spend NT$51 billion (about US$1.8 billion) to purchase 400 units of Harpoon anti-vessel/ land attack missiles. The MND-funded National Security Research Institute (NSRI) bragged that buying such kind of weapons can eliminate more than 70 percent of enemies. This kind of comment is so-called “Emperor’s speaker”, to cheat the Taiwanese people. It is not only unproper but also has exposed the problems and shortcomings of NSRI, the MND’s sole think tank.
In fact, ever since the United States studied the coastal defense Harpoon missiles system up to now, only Denmark and South Korea have deployed Harpoon missiles. Denmark has decommissioned it in 2003. The Harpoon missiles South Korea currently deployed are only anti-vessel model and with limited amount. Therefore, if Taiwan were to deploy the coastal defense/land attack Harpoon missile system, then it will become the only country in the world deploying such an obsolete weapon system. Even America will, in not too far future, stop deploying Harpoon missiles. In other words, Harpoon anti-vessel/land attack missiles are the waste of American-made weapon system. Taiwan, now buying such a waste with high price, is just to make itself the most lucrative market for the American weapon replacement project.
The MND has decided to purchase the Harpoon missiles. It will “soon” make Taiwan in the next five years the only country in the world deploying such obsolete weapon system. The United States Navy has started from 2017 deploying the assault missiles developed by the United States and Norway, the Naval Strike Missile (NSM), the most advanced anti-vessel/land attack cruise missiles with avant-garde design of stealth appearance and excellent ability evading radar detection technology. The NSM missiles have not only deployed by Norwegian Navy and the U.S. Navy but also the United States Marine who has purchased NSM’s coastal defense model. Poland and Malaysia are also users of NSM missiles. Even Germany and Japan these two countries with capability of making most advanced anti-vessel missiles in the world have also signed contracts to purchase NSM missiles. It is obvious that the NSM missiles system is an extraordinary new type of anti-vessel/land attack missiles. The reason Washington is eager to sell the Harpoon missiles to Taiwan, is that it wants to sell obsolete Harpoon missile system with high price, in order to use the gain from Taiwan to replace its more advanced NSM missiles system. It is a deal “kill two birds with one stone”.
Some 28 years ago, in a lump sum purchase of F-16 fighters, the United States sold Taiwan new F-16 fighters mixed with some shoddy ones, as to sell the seconds at best quality price. The Taiwan Navy’s main war ships, the Kidd Class destroyers were sold to Taiwan after the U.S. Navy had mothballed them 24 years. Now the MND expects to purchase the Harpoon missile system, which is no longer in manufacturing and obsolete weapon in stock. All these weapon deals have made Taiwan the most lucrative market for obsolete American weapons, and made lucrative for America’s “sell old to buy new” replacement weapon deals. The administration of President Tsai Ing-wen is complacent over these weapon deals. It is just shameful.