Retired US Navy rear admiral Mark Montgomery yesterday said that the US' latest arms sales to Taiwan are expected to make it difficult for China to invade Taiwan.
Last week, the US government announced the potential sale of eight arms packages to Taiwan — including US-made M109A7 howitzers, High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), anti-tank missiles and drones — at an estimated total cost of US$11.1 billion.
Photo: Tsai Tsung-hsien, Taipei Times
"This package is full of weapons that will make a Chinese lodgment on Taiwan difficult to execute and sustain," said Montgomery, who is currently a senior fellow of the Washington think tank Foundation for Defense of Democracies.
In an e-mail reply to a request for comment on the arms sales, Montgomery praised the effectiveness of the ground-based systems and munitions, such as M109A7 howitzers, HIMARS, Javelin and TOW, against China's military.
One highlight of the arms sales is the uncrewed aerial vehicle package worth about US$1 billion, which would serve as "an important part of counter-intervention abilities both in the maritime and ashore," Montgomery said.
However, Montgomery said he was disappointed that the US government would still not provide E-2D early warning and command and control aircraft in the latest sale.
"These are cost effective aircraft necessary for the coordination of Taiwan's fighter aircraft (F-16s) and air defense systems," he said.
Earlier this year, military sources said that extensive harassment by Chinese fighter jets means that it is necessary for Taiwan to purchase E-2D early warning aircraft to replace its current E-2K early warning aircraft.
The latest arms sale announcement was the second since US President Donald Trump returned to the White House earlier this year.
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