U.S. Aims to Turn Taiwan into Giant Weapons Depot
United Daily News, October 7, 2022
According to current and former American officials, the New York Times cites, the United States is intensifying efforts to build a giant stockpile of weapons in Taiwan after studying recent naval and air force exercise by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) around Taiwan. The intention to build Taiwan into "a porcupine island" is meant to make Taiwan hold out on its own until countries like the United States decide to intervene when the PLA blockades and invades Taiwan. However, this is preconditioned on the willingness of other countries to send troops.
On October 5, the New York Times, in its article "U.S. Aims to turn Taiwan Into Giant Weapons Depot" indicated that to turn Taiwan into giant weapons depot faces various challenges. First, the United States and its allies prioritized sending weapons to Ukraine, which is reducing those countries' stockpiles, and arms makers are reluctant to open new production lines without a steady stream of long-term orders. In addition, it is unclear how China might respond if the United States accelerates shipment of weapons to Taiwan.
U.S. officials are determining the quantity and types of weapons sold to Taiwan by quietly telling Taiwan officials and American arms makers that they will reject orders for some large systems in favor of smaller and more mobile weapons.
In response to the issue, Director-General Chen Ming-tong of the National Security Bureau indicated on October 6 at Taiwan's Legislative Yuan that U.S. policy in term of security is strategy clarity. The United States absolutely has the determination to implement its Taiwan Relations Act. However, the details of it remains to be observed.
Director-General Chen submitted "the Report on the National Intelligence and Security" to the Legislative Yuan on October 6. In response to opposition Legislator Johnny Chiang's concern on whether mainland Chinese leader Xi will be re-elected, Chen indicated that his assessment is that Xi will be re-elected. Xi will delegate China's economy to Premier Li Keqiang, while presiding over political and military affairs himself. In the past, Xi said that the Taiwan issue cannot be put off generation after generation. The solution of the Taiwan issue is his reason for extending his term.
Director-General Chen further pointed out that Taiwan has to make solid preparation so that mainland invasion will not only be impossible to succeed, China will also suffer from economic sanctions and diplomatic isolation. "We must make China understand clearly this message, so that it will seriously think twice before taking any action," Chen said.
On whether Mr. Xi will take action against Taiwan after being re-elected, Director-General Chen indicated that it depends on the type of action. On the public statement by the director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) that in 2027 tension in Taiwan will rise to high level, Chen indicated that no matter it's in 2027, 2025, or even 2023, Taiwan will be vigilant on every indications and will not give China reason to invade.
The New York Times also indicated that it is not easy to ship weapons to Taiwan because there is no land route from the neighboring countries like Ukraine. American officials said the aim at present is to equip Taiwan with enough weapons to hold out on itself until reinforcements comes.
The United States reiterated that Taiwan needs smaller and more mobile weapons that can be lethal against Chinese warships and jets while being able to evade attacks, which is central to so-called asymmetric warfare.
"Shoot-and-scoot" types of armaments are popular with the Ukrainian military, which has used shoulder-fired Javelin and NLAW antitank guided missiles and Stinger antiaircraft missiles effectively against Russian forces. Recently, the Ukrainians have pummeled Russian troops with American-made HIMARS rocket launchers.
American officials have been trying to steer Taiwanese counterparts toward ordering more of those weapons and fewer systems for a conventional ground war like M1 Abrams Tanks.