Taiwan Military News, Reports, Data, etc.

joshuatree said:

I think a major hurdle is, who is willing to sell new aircraft to Taiwan without risking a bumpy relation with China, especially an economic one given China is now a credible alternate engine for the world's economy? No doubt the French would be happy to sell but not when it risks her economic relations with China. Would the US be willing to include Taiwan into the F-35 program? Doubtful. The US could stand the heat but that would make the "pivot" become a full blown Cold War II. Russia usually sells to just about anyone but not sure how receptive that deal would be to both sides, Russia is an on/off ally to China and Taiwan to the US.
It would seem the only viable alternate would be to develop an IDF-II but can she pour in the R&D dollars needed?

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IMO India could have been a potential exporter, considering that China does sell to Pakistan. "Could have been", but no. India lacks domestic fighter, fighter engine, and SSK products that TW would consider importing. Between HAL Tejas and F-16's I think TW would lean heavily toward F-16.

adeptitus said:

IMO India could have been a potential exporter, considering that China does sell to Pakistan. "Could have been", but no. India lacks domestic fighter, fighter engine, and SSK products that TW would consider importing. Between HAL Tejas and F-16's I think TW would lean heavily toward F-16.

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At this point, TW should pour more resources into armed UAVs to supplement their defense.

adeptitus said:

IMO India could have been a potential exporter, considering that China does sell to Pakistan. "Could have been", but no. India lacks domestic fighter, fighter engine, and SSK products that TW would consider importing. Between HAL Tejas and F-16's I think TW would lean heavily toward F-16.

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When comparing with budget and delivery schedule, F-16 trumps Tejas, hands down. Corporation with India will definitely turn into a train wreck of bureaucracy, kick-backs and delays.

The enemy of your enemy might be your friend, but this "friend" can be a royal pain to work with.

In summery, not worth the trouble.

Given the declines of investment in the PRC, as well as its up tick in territorial tentions the PRC may push its self into a weaker position in blocking TW military imports particulary if Japan, the Philipenes, Vietnam and South Korea were to ally inorder to press the PRC on it south sea claims

South Korea doesn't care about the SCS and there's not much Japan can do on that front.

TerraN_EmpirE said:

along with jets how about a few new mbts m48 is very dated

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When Taiwan needs MBT's to defend against the PLA, then it's already time to wave the white flags. Taiwan has a first line of defence and a last line of defence, which incidentally is the same line; the Taiwan strait. Once the PLA has sea and air superiority, nothing can stop a PLA landing. You can purchase as many Leo 2's or Abrams, but once the PLA lands, the ROC can not possibly match the pure size of the PLA. The PLA can easily utilise civil merchant fleets for landing operations, reinforcement tempo is not a problem once the PLA has sea superiority.

Personally, I think that investment towards the military by the ROC is folly and pretty much irrelevant already. With the advancements in technology by the PLA in cruise missiles and ballistic missiles in recent years, defeating Taiwan is too easy. A barrage of missiles to overwhelm any Taiwan defences and further salvos to destroy all defence installations; war's over.

Yes, Taiwan can spend money to purchase Patriot SAM batteries but the mainland has the capability to manufacture more precision ballistic missiles than Taiwan has missiles, I hope no one's actually suggesting the possibility of a small island being able to defend against a bigger, stronger and more technologically advanced neighbour should the bigger neighbour be committed in invading it; only variables will be the casaulties and methods, but the final outcome is obvious.

jobjed said:

Once the PLA has sea and air superiority, nothing can stop a PLA landing. You can purchase as many Leo 2's or Abrams, but once the PLA lands, the ROC can not possibly match the pure size of the PLA.

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That presupposes that China is willing to bleed itself dry to seize Taiwan. I'm not sure that's the case. Also it's quite possible that China could land a force that was not overwhelming but also could not immediately be resupplied or backed up. There is a point in Taiwan having tanks, the issue is what sort it needs.

The PLA can easily utilise civil merchant fleets for landing operations, reinforcement tempo is not a problem once the PLA has sea superiority.

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How exactly is China going to use civil merchant fleets that aren't outfitted to carry or land military equipment?

jobjed said:

When Taiwan needs MBT's to defend against the PLA, then it's already time to wave the white flags. Taiwan has a first line of defence and a last line of defence, which incidentally is the same line; the Taiwan strait. Once the PLA has sea and air superiority, nothing can stop a PLA landing. You can purchase as many Leo 2's or Abrams, but once the PLA lands, the ROC can not possibly match the pure size of the PLA. The PLA can easily utilise civil merchant fleets for landing operations, reinforcement tempo is not a problem once the PLA has sea superiority. ......

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Not true, assuming PLA does establish a beach head, that doesn't mean ROCA can't buy time by providing credible resistance for reinforcements from the US and allies under the current defense agreements. The initial phases of the Korean War reflect this, SK was pushed back to the Busan Perimeter before the Battle of Inchon changed the course of the war.

joshuatree said:

Not true, assuming PLA does establish a beach head, that doesn't mean ROCA can't buy time by providing credible resistance for reinforcements from the US and allies under the current defense agreements. The initial phases of the Korean War reflect this, SK was pushed back to the Busan Perimeter before the Battle of Inchon changed the course of the war.

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America will not go to war with the PRC over a small island that's of little remaining value. It would be a valid possibility that 1949-1990s Taiwan would have been defended by the US, but that period was a period when the mainland had ancient equipment.

Like I said, the mainland would use missiles in overwhelming barrages to neutralise any defence installations on Taiwan before contemplating landing any troops. Missiles will also be used to deny access, as per the PLAN strategy, to any US or US allied vessel or aircraft. On the issue of Taiwan, the US would not be able to do anything of military value without drastic measures such as convincing India to open a second front or launching nukes straight up.

jobjed said:

America will not go to war with the PRC over a small island that's of little remaining value. It would be a valid possibility that 1949-1990s Taiwan would have been defended by the US, but that period was a period when the mainland had ancient equipment.

Like I said, the mainland would use missiles in overwhelming barrages to neutralise any defence installations on Taiwan before contemplating landing any troops. Missiles will also be used to deny access, as per the PLAN strategy, to any US or US allied vessel or aircraft. On the issue of Taiwan, the US would not be able to do anything of military value without drastic measures such as convincing India to open a second front or launching nukes straight up.

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We'll most likely agree to disagree but Taiwan still holds a very strategic value in the concept of first island chain. Missile barrages still can't knock of defenses that are well protected deep in bunkers, caves, and mountains. My opinion is that time and closer economic integration will eventually bring the two together in a peaceful manner. But that doesn't mean Taiwan should abandon defenses because the very thought of them having a credible defense is sufficient to deter China from making that mistake of using force. If China goes to a level of flat out annihilation via barrage of missiles, it will invoke a response from the world and the US whether they had wanted to or not.

For Taiwan, working on ballistic missiles of their own and even fielding a few SSBNs would be the ideal counter strike that would nullify the thought that simply being able to establish a beach head on Taiwan means all defenses have been neutralized. Because then the PLA generals have to contemplate the cost of counter missile barrages to Chinese cities. Taiwan doesn't need to develop missiles or subs with ranges that have to be world-wide, just far enough so it's not tied down to the island so any Chinese initial strike won't be able to destroy them.