Taiwan’s Defense Ministry announced that it had received 38 M1A2 Abrams main battle tanks from the United States. Substantial aid for the island which seeks to strengthen its military capabilities in the face of possible aggression from China.
The M1A2 Abrams arrived Sunday December 15 and were transferred to a military training base in Hsinchusouth of Taipei, according to the ministry. These vehicles represent the first delivery of new tanks to Taiwan in 30 yearsaccording to the Central News Agency.
The Taiwanese government placed an order for 108 units in 2019, for an amount greater than $1.2 billion. The other tanks should be delivered in 2025 and 2026.
Washington remains Taipei’s main ally and its largest arms supplier. Arousing the anger of Beijing, which considers Taiwan as part of its territory. The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs also urged on Monday United States to “stop arming Taiwan” and to “end their support for Taiwanese independence forces”.
A spokesperson for the Chinese ministry, Lin Jian, said that “the Taiwanese authorities’ attempt to seek independence through force and foreign aid is doomed to failure” and added that China “will firmly defend its national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity.”
The Taiwanese army has around 1,000 tanks
Since 1949, China and Taiwan have coexisted under separate governments, but Beijing claims the island and does not rule out the use of force to take it under his control. In response, Taipei allocated a record budget of 19 billion dollars for its defense in 2024and next year’s is expected to increase further.
The Taiwanese military currently has approximately 1.000 charsincluding local models like the CM Brave Tiger. And vehicles of American origin like the M60A3, whose technology is becoming obsolete.
Last November, Taiwan also received a first batch of rocket launchers multiple HIMARS from the United States, used by Ukraine in its conflict against Russia. Over the past five decades, the United States has sold to Taiwan military equipment and ammunition for several billion dollars, including F-16 fighters and warships.
The United States has traditionally adopted a policy of “strategic ambiguity” regarding possible military intervention in the event of an attack on Taiwan by China. In Taiwan or Ukraine, the Biden administration accelerates international aid before the inauguration of Donald Trump on January 20, 2025, which warned of considerably reducing the latter.
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