The US has proposed selling Taiwan as many as 100 of its most advanced Patriot air-defense missiles along with radar and support equipment in a deal valued at US$882 million, according to a US Department of State notice obtained by Bloomberg News.
The proposal was made under the provisions of a 2010 sale and so technically is not new. It is classified as an enhancement to the earlier deal, with a potential total value of US$2.81 billion.
The upgrade would not change the overall value of that deal, which infuriated Beijing at the time and led it to halt planned military exchanges with the US.
Photo: Reuters
The department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Its notice to lawmakers was expected to be printed in the congressional record as soon as yesterday and be reviewed by the US Congress for up to 30 days.
In Taipei, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it would not comment on particular items in arms packages.
The “normalization” of arms sales to Taiwan under the administration of US President Joe Biden underscores Washington’s emphasis on Taiwan’s self-defense capabilities, the ministry said.
Taiwan is resolved to defend itself and would continue to work with the US to deepen collaboration that would continue to help shore up the nation’s defense capabilities, it said.
Air Force Command Headquarters yesterday said that the added purchases of Patriot-III missiles are part of the air force’s general arms buildup project.
The new proposal includes as many as 100 of Lockheed Martin Corp’s hit-to-kill Patriot PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) missiles that are more advanced than earlier Patriots sent to Taiwan.
It also includes M903 Launcher modification kits, missile round trainers and software upgrades to accommodate the new missiles.
The proposed sale would enhance Taiwan’s Patriot missile system “to improve its missile defense capability, defend its territorial integrity and deter threats for regional stability,” the department said in the notice.
The total estimated 2010 value is to remain at US$2.81 billion, it said.
The Patriot MSE is a “small, highly agile, kinetic kill interceptor for defense against tactical ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and air-breathing threats” and “represents the next generation in hit-to-kill interceptors and provides expanded battlespace against evolving threats,” according to Lockheed Martin.
The new missile improves upon the original hit-to-kill PAC-3 “capability with a higher performance solid rocket motor, modified lethality, more responsible control surfaces and upgraded guidance software,” the department said.
The missiles are expected to be delivered in batches between 2025 and 2026, the Ministry of National Defense said.
The 100 PAC-3 MSEs would allow Taiwan’s missile batteries to have an increased range of 60km while continuing to build up the nation’s supply of PAC-family missiles, Institute for National Defense and Security Research analyst Shu Hsiao-huang (舒孝煌) said.
The new M903 Launchers would allow the military to have more flexibility in terms of missile response, Shu said.
However, Shu added that the military should still endeavor to ramp up the production of domestically produced Tien Kung-III missiles and their deployment to bolster the nation’s anti-air defense capabilities.
Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Wang Ting-yu (王定宇) said that the US engineers and consultants who would be dispatched to Taiwan as part of the deal are a sign of warming Taiwan-US relations.
Additional reporting by Lu Yi-hsuan, Aaron Tu and CNA
INCREASED RISK: The Omicron BA.2.75 subvariant has higher immune evasive capacity, but the CECC is more concerned about newer subvariants such as XBB and BQ.1 With the peak season for infectious respiratory diseases coming to an end, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) yesterday said that details of the next phase of lifting COVID-19 masking rules — removing the mask requirement in most indoor settings — are to be announced this week. Discussions on lifting other COVID-19 restrictions are also being held, including further easing border control measures, home isolation requirements and revising the definition for reporting cases, while also downgrading COVID-19 to a lower category of notifiable communicable disease, said Deputy Minister of Health and Welfare Victor Wang (王必勝), who heads the CECC. As the daily
GUT FEELING: In the leaked memo, US Air Force General Mike Minihan urged mobile command personnel to go to a firing range, shoot at a target and ‘aim for the head’ A four-star US Air Force general has warned of a conflict with China as early as 2025 — most likely over Taiwan — and urged his commanders to push their units to achieve maximum operational battle readiness this year. In an internal memorandum that first emerged on social media on Friday, and was later confirmed as genuine by the Pentagon, Air Mobility Command Commander General Mike Minihan said that the main goal should be to deter “and, if required, defeat” China. “I hope I am wrong. My gut tells me we will fight in 2025,” Minihan said. Minihan said that Taiwan’s presidential election
PEACE AND STABILITY: The two nations called for the peaceful resolution of cross-Taiwan Strait issues through dialogue without the threat or use of force or coercion The Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday thanked France and Australia for voicing their support for Taiwan, saying that peace across the Taiwan Strait is crucial to the stability and prosperity of international society. France and Australia on Monday pledged to deepen ties with Taiwan and reiterated their support for its participation in international organizations at this year’s Foreign and Defense Ministerial Consultations in Paris. The meeting between French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Catherine Colonna, French Minister of the Armed Forces Sebastien Lecornu, Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong (黃英賢) and Australian Minister for Defence Richard Marles was the second
DEMOCRATIC SYSTEM: Czech president-elect Petr Pavel said his nation stands firmly on the side of democracy and would boost cooperation with Taipei in all aspects Czech president-elect Petr Pavel spoke by telephone with President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) yesterday, a highly unusual move given the lack of formal ties and a diplomatic coup for Taipei. Tsai spoke with Pavel for 15 minutes in a harmonious atmosphere, Presidential Office spokeswoman Lin Yu-chan (林聿禪) said, adding that Minister of Foreign Affairs Joseph Wu (吳釗燮) was also present during the conversation. Lin quoted Pavel as telling Tsai that Taiwan is a trustworthy partner, adding that the Czech Republic stands firmly on the side of democracy and supports Taiwan in maintaining a lively democratic system free from authoritarian coercion. The Czech Republic would
RSS