The US’ early delivery of long-range tactical ballistic missiles to Taiwan last month carries political and strategic significance, a military source said yesterday.
According to the Ministry of National Defense’s budget report, the batch of military hardware from the US, including 11 sets of M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) and 64 MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile Systems, had been scheduled to be delivered to Taiwan between the end of this year and the beginning of next year.
However, the first batch arrived last month, earlier than scheduled, with the second batch —18 sets of HIMARS, 20 MGM-140 missiles and 864 M30 and M31 Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) rockets — expected to be delivered by 2026.
Photo: Frame grab from Global Defense Corp’s YouTube channel
M30 and M31 GMLRS rockets have an average range of 70km and a maximum range of 94km, while their integrated GPS-aided navigation systems allow them to accurately hit enemy targets.
MGM-140 missiles have a much longer range of up to 300km.
The early delivery of the MGM-140 missiles before the GMLRS rockets indicated a strategic decision to send an international message, said a source from the ministry, who asked to remain anonymous.
Previously, the US would defer the delivery of long-range, high-precision weapons to Taiwan out of concern for cross-strait tensions, even though those arms sales had been approved, the source said.
For example, the delivery of advanced, medium-range, air-to-air missiles — which are compatible with F-16 Fighting Falcon combat aircraft — was not completed and remained on hold in Guam until Taiwan developed indigenous medium-range air-to-air missiles of the same level — the advanced Tien Chien II (Sky Sword II) missiles, the source said.
The early delivery of long-range MGM-140 missiles reflected the US’ strategy to counter Chinese coercion by helping Taiwan to bolster its capacity to strike targets within China’s national borders, they said.
The MGM-140 missiles could be launched across the Taiwan Strait to attack critical airports and military bases in China if Beijing initiates a military assault against Taiwan, the source said.
Since the Third Taiwan Strait Crisis in 1995 and 1996, Taiwan has developed indigenous ballistic missiles with ranges long enough to reach China’s coastal and inland military bases, although their number and accuracy have yet to be released to the public, the source said.
The indigenous Hsiung Feng IIE (HF-IIE, “Brave Woid 11E”) and extended-range HF-IIE cruise missiles have yet to be disclosed either, the source added.
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