2007

Missile Buildup and Defense

Defense Minister’s Visit to the U.S.

EU Arms Embargo

~ 2000 ; 2001 ; 2002 ; 2003 ; 2004 ; 2005 ; 2006

[News] [Papers]

Gates Says U.S. Arms Sales to Taiwan to Go On
(Central News Agency, Dec. 23, 2007) The United States will continue its arms sales to Taiwan, U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates said. "I was very explicit that our arms sales were consistent with the Taiwan Relations Act and the joint statement and that as long as they continued to build up their forces on their side of the Taiwan Strait, we would continue to give Taiwan the resources necessary to defend itself," Gates said.

Taipei Approves Patriot Missile Purchase
(AP, Dec. 21, 2007) Taiwan's legislature has approved the island's 2008 defense budget, including a long-delayed allocation for three sets of US-made Patriot III missiles. The budget includes a NT$2 billion allocation for a feasibility study on the acquisition of US-made diesel submarines. Legislative officials said the defense budget totaled NT$341.4 billion - a 12 per cent increase over 2007.

Taiwan President Pushes for Naval Build-Up
(AFP, Dec. 18, 207) Taiwan's President Chen Shui-bian pressed for a build-up of the island's seaborne defenses, warning of a possible Chinese blockade during a trip to a naval base. Taiwan is moving slowly towards acquiring eight new submarines from the United States after gaining parliamentary approval for a two billion dollar 'assessment fee' last week.

Most in Military Believe a War with China Will Come
(TT, Dec. 13, 2007) Lieutenant General Chen Kuo-hsiang said that the questionnaire was given to 3,010 soldiers who took part in an exercise after an `intensive mental training course.' More than 50 percent of military personnel believe there is going to be war between Taiwan and China.

Taiwan Opposition Agrees to Purchase of US-Made Anti-Missile System (AP, Dec. 12, 2007) Taiwan's main opposition party will vote to approve funding of a U.S.-made anti-missile system for the island's defense after delaying the measure for more than two years, a party leader said Wednesday.

China Planning to Create Air Zone in Taiwan Strait: Chen
(Taipei Times, Dec. 8, 2007) Taiwan has expressed concern over China's plan to draw up an Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) within the Taiwan Strait to submit to the International Civil Aviation Organization and pass on to other countries. President Chen Shui-bian said that Beijing planned to create an ADIZ to prevent the US and Japan from gathering intelligence on China.

China Again Urges U.S. Not to Sell Weapons to Taiwan
(Reuters, Dec. 7, 2007) China has urged the United States to stop selling advanced weapons to Taiwan, a move that sends the wrong signal to the self-ruled island Beijing claims as its own. The U.S. Defense Department informed Congress last month about a possible sale to Taiwan of Patriot missile system upgrades valued at $939 million.

Navy Announces First Female Captain
(Taipei Times, Nov 19, 2007) The Navy announced that for the first time in its history a female lieutenant commander would be captain of a patrol vessel. Lieutenant Commander Hsieh Ai-chieh, 30, had been made captain of a Chin Chiang-class patrol vessel.

Defense Minister Says Taiwan Cannot Withstand PRC Invasion on Its Own (Taiwan News, Nov. 18, 2007) National Defense Minister Lee Tien-yu told members of an American commission that without the help of the United States, local armed forces would not be able to withstand an invasion by the Chinese People's Liberation Army if the two sides should go to war.

U.S. Eyes $939 Million Missile Sale to Taiwan
(Reuters, Nov. 14, 2007)  The U.S. Defense Department informed lawmakers about a possible sale to Taiwan of Patriot missile system upgrades valued at $939 million and supplied by U.S. defense contractor Raytheon Co. The Pentagon's Defense Security and Cooperation Agency said the government of Taiwan had requested upgrades and refurbishment of its three existing Patriot fire units.

India Helping Taiwan with Nuke Project, Report Claims
(Taiwan News, Nov. 9, 2007) A Hong Kong-based Chinese-language weekly said in its latest issue that an Indian parliamentarian who had served as India's defense minister had secretly visited Taiwan many times to help Taiwan develop nuclear weapons. The magazine identified the parliamentarian as 77-year-old Shri George Fernandes.

Beijing Names Taiwanese Spy Hacker
(Straits Times, Nov. 1, 2007) China has publicly named a Taiwanese spy in what was seen as tit-for-tat move following Taiwan's recent uncovering of a Chinese hacker network trying to obtain classified military information.

China Says Hackers Also Target Its Computers
(Straits Times, Oct. 31, 2007) Following the recent bad press over Chinese military hackers attacking computer systems abroad, a Chinese newspaper has hit back with a lengthy account of foreign threats to China's own computer networks.

Chen Attempts to Soothe Washington on Missiles, UN Bid
(AP, Oct. 30, 2007) A referendum on Taiwanese membership in the UN is not a move toward independence, and a cruise missile under development would never be fired without Washington's permission, President Chen Shui-bian said yesterday.

DPP Government Will Not Develop Nuclear Arms, President Vows (Agence France Presse, Oct. 30, 2007) President Chen Shui-bian pledged that his government would not develop nuclear weapons, but said the island needed to boost its defenses to counter China's military might.

US Panel Calls for Arms Sale Approval
(Taipei Times, Oct 28, 2007) A blue-ribbon US congressional advisory panel, expressing concern over the likelihood of a US-China clash if China attacks Taiwan, is urging the administration of US President George W. Bush to approve arms sales to Taiwan and promote joint military activities between Taiwan, the US and other allies to enable a more international response in case of a Chinese attack.

Taiwan Denies U.S. Offered Tomahawk Sale
(AFP, Oct. 23, 2007) The defense minister denied a report that the United States may sell Tomahawk cruise missiles to Taiwan in a bid to control arms development in the island. Taiwan Defense Minister Lee Tien-yu said he "has not heard of such a possible arms sale as reported," while replying to a query raised by an opposition lawmaker.

Taiwan to Develop 'Blackout Bomb': Report
(AFP, Oct. 22, 2007) Taiwan is to develop a non-lethal graphite bomb designed to disable rival China's power supplies. Should war break out, the so-called "blackout bombs" would be carried by Hsiungfeng 2E cruise missiles to paralyse the power systems of China's southeastern coastal cities, the United Daily News said.

Chen Reiterates Taiwan Has No Nuclear Ambitions
(Taiwan News, Oct. 21, 2007) President Chen Shui-bian reiterated that Taiwan does not possess nuclear warheads and has no plans to develop them, adding that Taiwan would openly communicate with the United States on the types of weapons it has under research and development.

Premier Dismisses Nuclear Allegations
(Taipei Times, Oct. 20, 2007) Premier Chang Chun-hsiung yesterday dismissed allegations by Kuomintang (KMT) Legislator Su Chi that the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) government was developing nuclear weapons to confront China's military threat and as a bargaining chip to negotiate with the US. Besides developing a nuclear weapon, Su said Chen was also pushing for the mass production of the locally developed Hsiung Feng II-E cruise missile.

Taiwan Opposition Stalls Anti-China Missile Budget
(Reuters, Oct. 18, 2007) Taiwan opposition lawmakers have voted to slash the budget to produce cruise missiles that could strike Chinese targets such as Shanghai, effectively freezing the program which had aimed to begin mass production next year. 

Taiwan Unveils Missiles at National Day Parade
(AFP, Oct. 11, 2007) Taiwan flexed its military muscles, showing off two home-developed missiles in a rare parade seen as a reminder to China that it has the weaponry to defend itself. But the island's first cruise missile, the Hsiung-feng 2E -- which because of its range could reach the Chinese mainland -- was not on display following reported pressure from Taipei's main ally Washington.

Taiwan Flexes Military Might
(Reuters, Oct. 10, 2007) Taiwan rolled out its top weaponry for a National Day parade for the first time in 16 years, a move aimed at antagonizing China and boosting nationalist fervor at home ahead of tough elections.

Hsiung Feng Won't Be Displayed: MND
(Taipei Times, Oct. 9, 2007) Minister of National Defense Lee Tien-yu admitted to the existence of the Hsiung Feng ("Brave Wind") IIE missile, but said it would not be on display during the Double Ten National Day parade tomorrow.

Taiwan Likely to Show Off New Missile
(Associated Press, Oct. 4, 2007) Taiwan seems set to unveil a cruise missile — capable of hitting targets in China — at next week's National Day observance, a military official said, in a move likely to ratchet up tensions between the rivals.

US House Passes Resolution Declaring Support for Arms Sales to Taiwan (AP, Oct. 3, 2007) The U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday passed a resolution declaring that the United States would continue to provide Taiwan weapons for its defense.

MND Embarrassed by Information Leak
(Taipei Times, Oct. 3, 2007) Minister of National Defense Lee Tien-yu said yesterday that the military needed to review its handling of confidential papers in light of an embarrassing information leak highlighted by the press. Lee made the remarks after the Chinese-language Apple Daily pieced together classified information from documents that had been shredded and then sold to a recycling firm.

Taiwan Bill Passes US Committee
(Taipei Times, Sep 28, 2007) The US House Foreign Affairs Committee approved a resolution that aims to press the administration of US President George W. Bush to allow Taiwan to purchase advanced F-16C/D fighter aircraft to proceed, despite State Department efforts to obstruct the sale. The approval was by a voice vote without objections.

US House Pressures Bush on F-16 Sale
(Taipei Times, Sep. 27, 2007) In a bid to prod the administration of US President George W. Bush to clear the sale of advanced F-16C/D fighters to Taiwan, the House Foreign Affairs Committee yesterday was preparing to approve a resolution urging the administration to stop blocking the sale.

Taipei Mum on Reports of Matsu Missile Deployment
(Taipei Times, Sep. 19, 2007) The Ministry of National Defense refused to comment yesterday on reports that it had suspended a plan to station missiles in Matsu as a result of pressure from the US.

China Protests against Proposed US Weapons Sales to Taiwan (AFP, Sep. 17, 2007) China protested against proposed 2.2-billion-dollar US weapon sales to Taiwan, urging Washington to cancel the deal and end its ties with the island's military.

Pentagon Could Make 2.2 billion Dollar Arms Sales to Taiwan
(AFP, Sep. 13, 2007) The Pentagon announced possible military sales to Taiwan worth more than 2.2 billion dollars, including a dozen P-3C Orion anti-submarine patrol aircraft and SM-2 anti-aircraft missiles.

Taiwan Has 'Urgent' Need to Buy United States F-16s
(Central News Agency, Sep. 12, 2006) Taiwan has an "urgent and legitimate" need to buy F-16 jet fighters from the United States, visiting ROC Deputy National Defense Minister Ko Cheng-heng said.

Ma Unveils Policies for Defense Overhaul
(China Post, Sep. 3, 2007) Presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou of the opposition Kuomintang (KMT) outlined his national defense policies, including maintaining reasonable military spending, establishing volunteer troops, and adopting non-provocative policies with a strong force working as deterrence can put up a good fight when necessary.

Military Spending to Increase 16.4% Next Year
(Taiwan News, Aug. 23, 2007) The Cabinet approved a 4.4 percent increase in government spending for next year with more than a fifth of the NT$1.7 trillion budget earmarked for Taiwan's growing military program. The budget still requires legislative approval, but its military spending provisions could make that difficult.

MND Newspaper to Run Articles from Jane's Defence Weekly
(Taiwan News, Aug. 22, 2007) The Ministry of National Defense's official newspaper will soon be running content from the authoritative Jane's Information Group. The Youth Daily News drew attention when its motto, traditionally "Fighting for the survival of the R.O.C., for the freedom and democracy of the R.O.C., and for the welfare of the R.O.C. people" appeared as "Fighting for the survival of Taiwan, for the freedom and democracy of Taiwan, and for the welfare of the Taiwanese people," local media reported.

US Officials Confirm Diesel Submarine Sale Will Go Ahead
(Taipei Times, Aug. 20, 2007) Kuomintang (KMT) Legislator Shuai Hua-min said US officials have told a delegation of Taiwanese legislators that Washington will go ahead with the sale of diesel-powered submarines to Taiwan even if the Democrats win next year's US presidential election.

Congress Notified of Possible Anti-Ship Missile Sale to Taiwan
(AFP, Aug. 9, 2007) The Pentagon said Wednesday it has notified the US Congress of the possible sale of 60 Harpoon Block II anti-ship cruise missiles to Taiwan.The proposed deal was valued at an estimated 125 million dollars, the Defense Security and Cooperation Agency said.

Taiwan Seeking Aegis Destroyers from U.S.: Report
(Reuters, Aug. 7, 2007) Taiwan wants to buy at least six Aegis-equipped destroyers from the United States at a cost of more than $4.6 billion, a newspaper said, a plan sure to anger China which claims the island as its own.

Taiwan to Reduce Troop Levels Stationed on Isles near China
(AFP, July 24, 2007) Taiwan's military is planning to dramatically reduce the number of troops stationed on a group of islands near China due to their waning strategic value. The planned withdrawal would cut the total number of troops in the island group to less than 10,000.

KMT Says Chen's UN Bid Has Derailed US Sales of F-16s
(Taipei Times, July 17, 2007) A group of Kuomintang (KMT) lawmakers yesterday said President Chen Shui-bian's push for a referendum on the nation's bid to join the UN under the name "Taiwan" had further strained relations with the US.

Army May Buy 30 Apaches: Report
(AFP, July 10, 2007) The army is seeking to buy 30 attack helicopters worth more than US$2 billion. It plans to spend NT$73 billion on the US-made Apache helicopters, the Chinese-language United Daily News said.

Taipei in Talks to Buy 66 F-16s from US
(Taipei Times, July 8, 2007) Taiwan has started negotiations with the US regarding the procurement of 66 F-16 fighter aircraft in order to strengthen its national defense, Deputy Minister of National Defense Ko Cheng-heng said.

Air Force Voices Radar Budget Concern to U.S.
(CNA, July 2, 2007) The Air Force Headquarters has formed a special task force to audit budget appropriation for an advanced radar system installation project and has expressed serious concern to U.S. military authorities over relevant budget misuse.

Legislature Finally Passes US Arms Budget
(Taipei Times, June 16, 2007) The long-stalled budget for the partial funding of a US arms procurement deal passed the legislature yesterday, about six years after the weapons sale was approved by the Bush administration in April 2001. The legislature approved a reduced NT$25.7 billion arms procurement package, although a NT$6.2 billion supplementary budget remains stalled.

'Offensive' Missiles Still Being Developed: Minister
(Taipei Times June 13, 2007) Minister of National Defense Lee Tien-yu said that the nation did not have any missiles deployed which could be used to attack China, but confirmed that the military was developing offensive missile technology.

Taiwan Eyes U.S. Military Refueling Planes
(AFP, June 11, 2007) Taiwan has for the first time confirmed it wants to buy military refueling aircraft from the United States as part of its efforts to boost its defenses against rival China.

Air Force General Is New Taiwan Defense Minister
(Reuters, May 19, 2007) Taiwan has named a former military chief to be the island's new defense minister as part of an ongoing Cabinet reshuffle ahead of next year's presidential election.

Taiwan Releases Results of Initial Probe into Jet Crash
(Straits Times, May 16, 2007) The Defense Ministry made public a preliminary probe into last Friday's fighter jet crash, as critics questioned the appropriateness of conducting a drill in a densely populated area.

Taiwan Simulates Attack from Rival China
(AP, May 15, 2007) Six Taiwanese jet fighters touched down on a highway in central Taiwan, as the island responded to a simulated attack from rival China at the start of three days of extensive war games.

Jet Crash Kills 4 During Exercise
(China Post, May 12, 2007) An air force F-5F fighter jet crashed while executing a mission in Hsinchu County as part of the Han Kuang exercise, killing both pilots and two others on the ground. The two killed on the ground were Singaporean soldiers taking part in a separate training.

MND to Stage Week-Long Anti-China War Games
(Reuters, May 8, 2007) The Ministry of National Defense (MND) will stage a series of live-fire military exercises next week aimed at demonstrating how the island's armed forces would fight off an attack from archrival China, the MND said.

US Calls for Taiwan to Pass Arms Budget in Face of China Threat
(AFP, May 4, 2007) The top US official in Taiwan renewed calls for the island's parliament to approve a controversial 10-billion-US dollar arms budget in the face of the threat from China's military buildup.

Missile Plan Defensive, Taiwan Says After U.S. Reproof
(Reuters, May 4, 2007) Taiwan rebuffed U.S. criticism of its plan for surface-to-surface missiles capable of striking China on Friday, insisting they were not "offensive" weapons.

U.S. Opposes Taiwan Missiles Aimed at China: Diplomat
(Reuters, May 4, 2007) Washington supports Taiwan's efforts to counter an arms build-up in China over the past decade, but believes offensive weapons in China or Taiwan threaten overall security, said Stephen Young, director of the American Institute in Taiwan.

Taiwan Says It Would Win War with China
(AP, Apr. 25, 2007) A computer simulation projected that China could land forces on rival Taiwan, but they would be repulsed after two weeks of fierce fighting and harsh losses to both sides, Taiwan's military said.

Taiwan Shows Model Missiles to Strike China
(Reuters, Apr. 22, 2007) Taiwan's military this week simulated a battle using defensive short-range and cruise missiles that could hit military targets in China if fully developed.

Japan, Germany Agree on EU Arms Ban for China
(AFP, Apr. 19, 2007) Japanese Defense Minister Fumio Kyuma and his German counterpart Franz Josef Jung agreed that the European Union should maintain its ban on arms exports to China.

US, Japan and India in First Joint Naval Drill
(AP, Apr. 17, 2007) The United States, Japan and India launched their first joint naval exercises yesterday, conducted off the Japanese coast. The one-day maneuvers were designed to improve communications, coordination and inter-operability, according to the US Seventh Fleet.

Taiwan Begins Simulated War Drill Against China
(AFP, Apr. 17, 2007) Taiwan is carrying out a computerized military exercise which for the first time focuses on attacking a Chinese aircraft carrier, a report said.

China Poses Risk to Key U.S. Satellites: Top General
(Reuters, Apr. 12, 2007) "It's not lost on this audience what a strategically dislocating event that was -- on a par with the October 1957 Sputnik launch" that put the old Soviet Union ahead of the United States in space.

Taiwan Seeks Military Helicopters from U.S. – Papers
(Reuters, Apr. 11, 2007) Taiwan wants to buy 120 attack and transport helicopters from the United States for an estimated US$6.95 billion, local media reported.

MND Computers Found Infested with Trojan Horse
(China Post, Apr. 10, 2007) Ministry of National Defense confirmed that computer hardware containing information on the upcoming Hang Kuang exercise and an electronic information system linking the MND to the U.S. military has been hacked.

Plans to Buy New Choppers Still up in the Air, Report Says
(Taiwan News, Apr. 7, 2007) Tuesday's crash of an army utility UH-1H helicopter has raised concerns about the MND's stance on whether old aircraft in the military should be replaced or not.

Army Helicopter Crashes in South
(China Post, Apr. 4, 2007) An army helicopter carrying eight servicemen crashed into a radio tower in Kaohsiung County, killing five soldiers with military personnel.

China's Military Advantage over Taiwan Rises, Analysts Say
(CP, Mar. 31, 2007) A senior U.S. intelligence analyst said that China's military advantage over Taiwan continues to grow as China pumps money into improving its navy, air force and ground forces and boosts the number of advanced weapons facing its rival across the Taiwan Strait.

Joseph Wu Urges China to be More Open
(TT, Mar. 31, 2007) Outgoing Mainland Affairs Council Chairman Joseph Wu urged China to improve the transparency of its increasing military budgets and respond to the world's worries about its "peaceful rise."

China Sought US Sub Secrets to Conquer Taiwan: US Prosecutor (AFP, Mar. 30, 2007) Prosecutors in the trial of US engineer Chi Mak said that secret US submarine technology information he had tried to smuggle to China was to help it take control of Taiwan.

China to U.S.: Halt Taiwan Weapon Sales
(AP, Mar. 29, 2007) China's ambassador to the United States urged Washington to continue sending a clear message condemning Taiwan independence and to stop selling weapons to the island's government.

Fighter Planes Unveiled
(China Post, Mar. 28, 2007) Aerospace Industrial Development Corp. unveiled the newly upgraded Taiwan-made IDF jet fighters "Ching-kuo Imposing Eagle" which feature improved weapons and fuel capacity.

Taiwan to Test Defenses against China in Live-Fire Drills
(AFP, Mar. 21, 2007) Taiwan plans to stage a series of live-fire war games from next month as part of efforts to assess its defense capabilities against bitter rival China, the defense ministry said.

Military Service Reduced to 14 Months
(Taiwan News, Mar. 16, 2007) President Chen Shui-bian announced that as from July 1 compulsory military service will be shortened to 14 months from the present 16 months. The period of military service is expected to be further shortened to 12 months next year.

Taiwan Tests ‘Brave Wind’ Cruise Missile
(DefenseNews.com, Mar. 12, 2007) Taiwan test-launched a land-attack cruise missile, Hsiung Feng-2E (Brave Wind), at its Jiupeng Missile Test Range in Pingtung County on Taiwan’s southeast coast Feb. 2. With a reported range of 1,000 kilometers and armed with a 400-kilogram warhead, the new missile will be able to strike as far north as Shanghai.

Taiwan Shows Force Amid Tensions with China
(AFP, Mar. 9, 2007) Taiwan showed off its special airborne force amid escalating cross-strait tensions stoked by the independence-leaning President Chen Shui-bian's recent provocative remarks.

US to Sell Taiwan US$421m Missiles
(AFP, Mar. 1, 2007) The US Department of Defense has notified Congress that it plans to sell Taiwan missiles worth US$421 million, which would help boost the island's defenses against rival China. The proposed sale will include 218 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air missiles (AMRAAM), 235 Maverick missiles, as well as spare parts and maintenance equipment.

Chen Approves Military Reshuffle
(Taipei Times, Feb. 2, 2007) President Chen Shui-bian has approved a major reshuffle of military personnel. According to a press release from the Presidential Office, Strategy Adviser to the President Hou Shou-yeh will swap jobs with Chief of the General Staff.

Chen Claims China Is 'Provoking' Taiwan
(AFP, Jan. 29, 2007) Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian has accused China of 'provoking' his government by targeting the island with nearly 1,000 missiles, rejecting claims that he was to blame for cross-strait tensions.

China's Satellite Shoot-down Concerns Taiwan
(AFP, Jan. 21, 2007) Taiwan has expressed concern after rival China reportedly shot down a space satellite for the first time, saying the act would negatively affect peace between them and in the region.

Pan-Blue Camp to Return Weapons Budget to MND
(Taiwan News, Jan. 8, 2007) The opposition parties preempted a hope reportedly expressed by the Ministry of Defense not to return a budget related to the purchase of a PAC-3 anti-missile system back to the ministry for redraft.

Arms Procurement Takes a Small Step
(Taipei Times, Dec. 30, 2006) The legislature voted 162 to 26 in favor of placing part of a long-stalled arms procurement bill on the legislative agenda, but the passage of the bill remains unclear. The KMT helped a NT$6.27 billion portion of the arms procurement package to advance to the budgetary committee for consideration, angering the PFP.

China Offers Glimpse of Rationale Behind Its Military Policies
(Washington Post, Dec. 30, 2006) China warned that the military landscape in northeast Asia is getting "more complicated and serious" because of North Korea's nuclear weapons program and tighter defense cooperation between Japan and the United States.

Robert Gates Backs Defense of Taiwan
(Taipei Times, Dec. 1, 2006) Robert Gates, who has been nominated to replace US Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, said "We should maintain our capabilities to resist China's use of force or coercion against Taiwan and assist Taipei in maintaining its self-defense."

China Agreed US Could Sell Taiwan Arms, Says Carter
(Agence France Presse, Dec. 6, 2007) Former US president Jimmy Carter said yesterday that when ties with China were re-established 28 years ago, Beijing had privately acknowledged that it understood the United States would keep selling arms to Taiwan. '(Deng) agreed that our statement to settle the Taiwan issue peacefully would not be contradicted publicly by China and he understood that we would sell defensive weapons to Taiwan after (a US-Taiwan defense) treaty expired,' Mr Carter said.

Proposed Missile Defense Upgrade for Taiwan Announced
(Agence France Presse, Nov. 14, 2007) The Defense Security and Cooperation Agency said the upgrades would involve ground support equipment of three existing fire units so that they can be armed with the most advanced Patriot interceptor missiles. "The proposed sale will help improve the security of the recipient and assist in maintaining political stability, military balance and economic progress in the region," the DSCA said.

US Stalling May Have Ramifications By Kurt Campbell
(Taipei Times, Oct 19, 2007) The decision on the part of the US at this stage not to provide Taiwan with the necessary pricing and operational information as an initial part of the process to buy several new squadrons of US F-16s can have several plausible explanations. For one, the administration may be waiting until after the Taiwanese presidential election to avoid any potential area of misunderstanding with -- or undue encouragement to -- Chen.

Taipei Losing Military Edge over Beijing, Say Analysts
(Straits Times, Oct. 12, 2007) If there is a repeat of the 1995-96 Taiwan Strait crisis, Beijing will be in a better position militarily. Taiwan watchers base their analysis on two factors: Beijing is planning a less ambitious - but more achievable - military strategy towards Taipei; and the capabilities of the People's Liberation Army have increased dramatically in recent years.

China and Taiwan Flex Military Muscles By David Lague
(International Herlad Tribune, Oct. 10, 2007) China has blanketed its territory with air defense radar that almost matches the performance of similar networks in developed countries, state media reported Wednesday, as its rival Taiwan held its first National Day military parade in 16 years.

House Urges Sale of F-16s to Taiwan
(Taipei Times, Oct. 4, 2007) The US House of Representatives, signaling an intensifying dispute with the administration of US President George W. Bush over Taiwan policy, approved without opposition on Tuesday a resolution urging the administration to end its resistance to the sale of advanced F-16C/D fighter aircraft to Taipei. 

Taiwan Develops Missiles Designed to Reach Targets in China By David Lague (International Herald Tribune, Sep. 29, 2007) Faced with a threatening military buildup by China, an increasingly outgunned Taiwan is quietly pushing ahead with plans to develop missiles that could strike the mainland, defense and security experts say.

US Capable of Defending Taiwan: Top US Commander
(Agence France Presse, July 25, 2007) Admiral Timothy Keating shrugged off suggestions at a Washington forum that the United States, burdened by conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, did not have sufficient forces in the vicinity to respond quickly enough to an incursion on Taiwan by China.

Taiwan Pushes for U.S. To Sell It F-16s
(DefenseNews.com, July 16, 2007) Taiwanese defense officials arrived in Washington last week to convince Washington to sell Taipei new F-16 fighters, arguing the United States needs the island nation as a strategic chess piece against rising Chinese military power.

Taiwan Seen as Flashpoint in Asia Region
(Agence France Presse, July 6, 2007) An Australian defense paper released warned that strains between the United States and China were inevitable in coming decades, identifying Taiwan as a potential regional flashpoint. "Taiwan remains a source of potential strategic miscalculation and were that to happen it could have disastrous consequences for the region, and for global security," the report said.

China Changing 'Status Quo': US Defense Official
(Taipei Times, June 15, 2007) Richard Lawless described China's ever-growing arsenal across the Taiwan Strait as a `challenge' to the US missile defense program. Asked to elaborate by a committee member, Lawless described the missile buildup as "challenges that are being presented to our ballistic missile programs."

China Overtakes Japan as Asia's Biggest Military Spender: SIPRI
(Associated Press, June 12, 2007) China overtook Japan as Asia's biggest arms spender in 2006 as global military expenditures grew 3.5 percent to US$1.2 trillion. China's growing military expenditures reached nearly US$50 billion, making it the fourth biggest arms spender in the world, SIPRI said in its annual report. Japan was fifth with US$43.7 billion.

After PRC Attack, U.S. Help Not Seen Coming for 14 Days
(Central News Agency, Apr. 26, 2007) A senior Taiwanese official said yesterday the island would have to fight alone for 10-14 days before the U.S. came to its aid in the event of an attack from rival China.

China Could Have Military Edge by 2010
(Agence France Presse, Apr. 25, 2007) China's rapid beefing up of its military might should give it the edge over Taiwan for the first time by 2010, Jane's Defense Weekly said. "China is working hard to transform its Vietnam War-era defense establishment into a credible regional military power with a new generation of indigenous equipment, designed to thwart more advanced adversaries," said Jane's.

Taiwan Lowers Its Defenses By Jonathan Adams
(Far Eastern Economic Review, April 2007) The author analyzes Taiwan’s strategic efforts to counter China’s military build-up and why military spending alone is inadequate to answer the China challenge.

Taiwan Factor in Guam Buildup: U.S. Admiral
(Associated Press, Apr. 16, 2007) The new commander of U.S. forces in the Pacific said that tensions over Taiwan are a factor in the military buildup of Guam but that the U.S. is working hard to ensure hostilities don't erupt.

Randall Schriver on Taiwan: Defense: Time to Take Ownership By Randall Schriver (Taipei Times, Apr. 4, 2007) Can the legislature take charge and take ownership of defense spending to protect Taiwan? I believe it can.

China Has Gained and Tested Array of Space Weapons By Bill Gertz (Washington Times, Mar. 30, 2007) China is developing an "impressive" array of space weapons, including missiles and jammers, and is moving toward placing nuclear weapons in space to attack U.S. satellites, the commander of U.S. strategic forces told the Senate.

US Official Warns of PRC Arms Buildup By Charles Snyder
(Taipei Times, Mar. 29, 2007) The US State Department's chief specialist in Taiwan affairs says the US is "deeply concerned" over China's military actions that threaten Taiwan and has recommitted Washington defend Taiwan.

Taiwan's Special Forces Set Sights on Threat from China By Richard Dobson (Reuters, Mar. 27, 2007) Taiwan's military and analysts increasingly feel that China would avoid an amphibious invasion and rather opt for a surprise attack against key installations and so-called "decapitation strikes" aimed at Taiwan leaders to win back the island.

New Pacific Commander Vows Commitment to Taiwan
(Taipei Times, Mar 10, 2007) The incoming commander of the US forces in the Pacific, Admiral Timothy Keating, signaled that he plans an active role for his US forces in preventing a Chinese attack on Taiwan, and said he would keep a close eye on developments in the Taiwan Strait, especially on China's growing military strength, when he assumes command.

Admiral Fallon Lauds Taiwan's Military
(Taipei Times, Mar. 9, 2007) Admiral Fallon said that the US had played a major role in guiding Taiwanese defenses and added that tensions in the Strait had diminished over the past two years.

Report of Taiwan Missile Test Marks Rising Tensions with China
(Christian Science Monitor, Mar. 7, 2007) Hot on the heels of a dust-up between Taiwan's pro-independence president and China's government, a new report says that last month Taiwan tested a missile capable of striking Shanghai and Hong Kong.

Kurt Campbell on Taiwan: Neglecting Defense Budget a Folly By Kurt Campbell (Taipei Times, Feb. 9, 2007) The recent failures to pass a defense budget in the legislature make it all the more difficult for even the most ardent friends and supporters of Taiwan's democracy and continued progress to respond in the affirmative.

PRC Reported to Now Have 900 Missiles Fixed Taiwan
(Reuters, Jan. 23, 2007) Taiwan said that the number of Chinese missiles aimed at the island now stood at 900, and slammed Beijing's recent satellite-killing test as the behavior of a "military superpower."

US Academic Advises Against Buying Subs
(Taipei Times, Jan 20, 2007) Bernard Cole, a professor at the National War College in Washington, made his comments to Taiwan reporters after a speech in which he advised the Legislative Yuan to drop its debate on the purchase of three advanced weapons systems offered by the US, and instead pay more attention to the "mundane" military needs that will help deter any Chinese military attack on Taiwan.

Weapons Deal Expected to Gain Approval
(Reuters, Dec. 20, 2006) Taiwan is likely to pass a long-stalled defense bill to buy weapons from the United States within the next month because of a likely change of heart in an opposition party, the legislative's speaker said.