Articles on Taiwan's Defense

The Times of India reports that the Beautiful Isle has been hunting for aircraft to upgrade its now-outclassed F-16 and Mirage fighters:

Liu said Taiwan plans to upgrade its fleet of F-16 and Mirage 2000-5s and has made the request to the US and France but has not received their consent yet. "But we will continue to make the request every year," he said.

Taiwan ordered 150 F-16s and 60 Mirage 2000-5s in 1992. Their service life can last for another 15-20 years but the air force is planning to deploy third-generation warplanes by 2020.

To fill in the gap between now and the deployment of third-generation warplanes, Taiwan hopes to buy second-hand F-15s from the US Air Force, Defence Minister Lee Jye said on Thurday.

The article reports that Taiwan has also asked to buy the Joint Strike Fighter. I hope the US comes around on this one. Taiwan stands no chance against China without significant upgrades in both the quality and quantity of its fighter aircraft.

The Honolulu Star-Bulletin reports on US carrier anti-submarine warfare training, which is more or less aimed at China.

The exercises, held Jan. 9-12 near the Hawaiian Islands, are something Navy sailors will be doing more of in coming years. The U.S. Pacific Fleet has made training to track and fight submarines its top combat priority amid concerns its sailors' skills haven't been keeping up with the advanced diesel submarines China and other Pacific Rim countries have been buying.

"There is a real threat out there -- over 140 diesel submarines in the Pacific, and the technology on them is getting better every day," said Capt. David F. Steindl, who directed the Reagan strike group's ships and aircraft during the exercises. "We need to train constantly to be ready if we ever have to face that threat."

The article also notes:

Just over half of China's diesel submarines are outdated Romeo-class subs, but Beijing moved to upgrade its fleet by acquiring four advanced Russian-made Kilo-class submarines in the 1990s and ordering eight more in 2002.

Owen Cote, associate director of the security studies program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, said when it comes to submarines, the United States is most concerned about the possibility China would use its diesel subs to block commercial ship access to Taiwan.

He said Beijing could use the tactic to try to force Taiwan to capitulate if Taipei and Beijing ever faced off militarily.

China considers the self-governing island a renegade province and has vowed to invade it if Taiwan declares independence. While the United States does not have official ties with Taiwan, it has committed to defending the island if it is attacked by China.

[Taiwan] [China] [Asia] [submarines] [US Foreign Policy]