Taiwan says new arms purchases to boost credible defence

TAIPEI: Taiwan said on Tuesday (Oct 27) that recent proposed US sales of missiles and other arms systems will boost the island's ability to credibly defend itself, amid rising threats from China.

The comments from defence ministry spokesperson Shih Shun-wen came a day after China said it would exact unspecified retaliation against companies that make the weapons systems, including Lockheed Martin, Raytheon Technologies and Boeing's defence division, the lead contractor on a US$2.37 billion sale of Harpoon missile systems to Taiwan.

Facing a potential Chinese foe with overwhelming superiority in missiles, soldiers, ships and planes, Taiwan has struggled to assure its own people and key ally the US that it is capable of and willing to see to its own defence.

The sides split amid a civil war in 1949 and China considers Taiwan its own territory to brought under its control by force if necessary.

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"The purchase of these weapons will enhance Taiwan's credible combat capabilities and asymmetric combat capabilities," Shih told reporters at a briefing, using a term for countering a much stronger foe with precision weapons and advanced tactics.

"This will also enhance our overall combat capabilities to contribute to maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait."

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The Trump administration on Monday notified Congress of plans for the Harpoon system, whose missiles are capable of striking ships and land targets. Boeing says the missile uses GPS-aided inertial navigation and delivers a 500-pound blast warhead. It can target coastal defence sites, surface-to-air missile sites, exposed aircraft, ships in port, and port and industrial facilities.

That followed another proposed sale announced on Oct 21 to provide US$1.8 billion worth of weaponry, including missile and rocket systems, and upgraded equipment for Taiwan's F-16 jet fighters.

Taiwan has long been an irritant in US-China relations. Washington has no formal relations with the island's democratically elected government but is its main ally. US law requires the government to ensure Taiwan can defend itself.

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In recent years, weapons sales to the island have increased in quantity and quality, as China builds the world's second most powerful military dedicated largely to defeating Taiwan and achieving its goal of annexation.

Stepped-up patrols by Chinese warplanes this year have put Taiwan's forces under increasing strain, increasing the importance of developing new weapons systems or buying them from abroad.

Beijing regularly pressures American companies including Boeing in an effort to influence US policy. China is one of Boeing's biggest markets for commercial aircraft, which might make it vulnerable to a boycott, but China's defence ministry mentioned only Boeing's military arm, Boeing Defense, not its civilian jetliner business.