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Sino-US agreement may force Taiwan to build weapons

A potential Sino-US agreement on a reduction of arms sales to Taipei might prompt Taiwan to accelerate the development of its own offensive missile systems, the authoritative Jane's Defense Weekly said.

Reports from Washington indicate that the White House is now considering the Chinese proposal for freezing additional deployments of tactical ballistic missiles aimed at Taiwan in exchange for a reduction in arms sales to Taipei, Jane's said.

"Although it is a possibility, I would take this with a grain of salt. We would fight it," stated another US government source. Pro-Taiwan supporters in the US government, referred to as the "Blue Team," would clearly be opposed to the Chinese proposal.

China has 100 Dong Feng-11 and 300 Dong Feng-15 tactical ballistic missiles deployed within range of Taiwan.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Eugene Chien (簡又新) has rejected the swap plan outright, arguing that it was "unreasonable and unfair."

Jane's warned that "if Washington and Beijing broker a deal, it may encourage Taiwan to continue with plans to develop a short-range ballistic missile -- based on the Tien Kung [Sky Bow] surface-to-air missile -- and a cruise missile [HF-2E] based on the Hsiung Feng [Brave Wind] anti-ship missile."

The US and Taiwan have only recently been able to move forward with a plan to deploy a missile defense system that would include an early-warning radar (EWR) and PAC-3 missiles.

Taipei has formally presented a letter of request to the US to purchase three Lockheed Martin PAC-3 units and for upgrades of three Raytheon PAC-2 Plus units to PAC-3 standards.

A US government source confirmed that "Taiwan is moving forward on missile defence, including PAC-3 and EWR."

The government has deployed three batteries of PAC-2 Plus anti-missile weaponry to defend the Greater Taipei area.
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