Missile Buildup and Defense

Defense Minister’s Visit to the U.S.

EU Arms Embargo

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[News] [Papers]

Air, Sea Defense Are Indispensable: Ma
(Taipei Times, Dec. 31, 2008) President Ma Ying-jeou told a military ceremony that blocking the enemy in the Taiwan Strait was key, following remarks by a US professor that Taiwan should abandon its naval and air forces.

Taiwan Stresses ‘No Fear’ of China with Live-Fire Drill
(AFP, Dec. 25, 2008) Taiwan staged a live-fire drill simulating an invasion by China as President Ma Ying-jeou highlighted the island’s determination to defend itself despite warming ties with its rival.

MND to Stage Key War Games Every Other Year: Official
(DPA, Dec. 19, 2008) The military will stage its major war games every other year instead of holding them annually, Minister of National Defense Chen Chao-min said.

MND: Military to Be Fully Volunteer Force by 2014
(CNA, Dec. 6, 2008) The Ministry of National Defense has started planning to push a fully professional voluntary military service system in a bid to build the country’s military into a “lean, mean” fighting force.

China’s Missile Deployment Monitored, MND Head Says
(CNA, Nov. 18, 2008) Minister of National Defense Chen Chao min said that whatever new types of missiles or weaponry China is deploying along its coastlines opposite Taiwan, they are all a military threat to the island.

Shipping Checkpoints Ensure Defense: MND
(CNA, Nov. 18, 2008) Minister of National Defense Chen Chao-min said that his ministry will set up checkpoints to ensure that direct shipping links with China do not endanger Taiwan’s defense network.

Official: Taiwan Plans Military Contact with China
(AP, Oct. 29, 2008) Taiwan is considering the first-ever contacts between its military and the People's Liberation Army of mainland China but has set no timetable for such meetings, a senior Taiwanese defense official said.

US Trying to Block Taiwan Missiles: ‘Defense News’
(Taipei Times, Oct. 29, 2008) Washington is blocking the delivery of crucial parts Taiwan needs to produce its home-grown cruise missiles in what a former US defense official said was a bid to placate China, the latest edition of Defense News said.

Taiwan to Produce 300 Cruise Missiles: Report
(AFP, Oct. 28, 2008) Taiwan plans to manufacture up to 300 cruise missiles, despite warming ties with rival China.

Anti-sub Helicopter Crashes off Hualien; 1 Dead, 2 Missing
(China Post, Oct. 22, 2008) A Navy helicopter carrying five people crashed off eastern Hualien county in the second incident of its kind to hit the military in two days.

Taiwan President Says No War with China
(AP, Oct. 21, 2008) Taiwan's president said Tuesday that there will be no war with rival China during his first four-year term as president.

Two Jet Pilots Missing after Plane Crash off Penghu Islands
(China Post, Oct. 21, 2008) The latest apparent accident was the fifth mishap to befall an IDF fighter since the model was introduced to Taiwan's Air Force in 1988.

China Defense Minister Raps US Arms Sale to Taiwan
(AP, Oct. 14, 2008) China's defense minister has demanded that the U.S. cancel a $6.5 billion arms sale to Taiwan, saying it created "obstacles" in relations between Beijing and Washington.

Sales Symbolize Improved Trust: Ma
(CNA, Oct. 12, 2008) President Ma Ying-jeou said yesterday the recent move by the United States to sell weapons to Taiwan symbolizes an initial improvement in trust between the two countries.

McCain, Obama Endorse Planned $6.46 Billion Taiwan Weapons Sale (Bloomberg, Oct. 9, 2008) John McCain and Barack Obama endorsed the U.S. Defense Department's plan to sell $6.46 billion in weapons to Taiwan, as China protests the transaction.

Obama Commends Taiwan Arms Sale By Glenn Kessler
(Washington Post, Oct. 8, 2008) Sen. Barack Obama today welcomed the Bush administration's decision to sell $6 billion of military equipment to Taiwan but did not call for the administration to also add submarines and F-16 aircraft.

McCain Urges More Weapons for Taiwan By Glenn Kessler
(Washington Post, Oct. 7, 2008) Sen. John McCain today issued a statement urging the administration to add submarines and F-16s aircraft to a $6 billion package of military equipment for Taiwan that the White House unveiled last week.

China Cancels Military Contacts with US in Protest
(AP, Oct. 6, 2008) China has abruptly canceled a series of military and diplomatic contacts with the United States to protest a planned $6.5 billion package of U.S. arms sales to Taiwan.

Arms Deal to Taiwan Riles China
(New York Times, Oct. 4, 2008) An announcement that the United States would sell more than $6 billion in advanced weapons to Taiwan elicited strong reactions from leaders in China on Saturday, with officials in Beijing issuing denunciations and warnings that the weapons deal could worsen relations.

U.S. Approves $6.5 Billion in Taiwan Arms Sales
(Reuters, Oct. 3, 2008) The U.S. government on Friday announced plans to sell around $6.5 billion in arms to Taiwan, including 30 Boeing Co Apache attack helicopters and 330 Patriot missiles, in a move that could anger China.

Arms Deal Still Pending: US State Department Official
(Taipei Times, Oct. 2, 2008) While addressing the Florida conference, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for East Asia David Sedney said the internal review process for the arms sales was far more complicated than imagined and that he did not know if or when notification would be given.

U.S. Credibility at Stake in Arms Sales: MND
(CNA, Oct. 1, 2008) The United States could see its credibility among Taiwanese at stake if it fails to approve a pending Taiwan arms procurement package, visiting Republic of China Defense Minister Chen Chao-min said.

Grounded Navy Boat May Be Scrapped
(China Post, Sep. 30, 2008) A Taiwan Navy missile boat, which cost NT$400 million (US$13 million) to build, may have to be scrapped since it can’t be re-floated after it ran aground at Putai.

Military Sends Drill Troops by High-speed Rail
(Taipei Times, Sep. 23, 2008) Members of an Army brigade took the high-speed railway from central to northern Taiwan yesterday to expedite their participation in a military drill.

Eyed by China, Taiwan Begins Low-key Military Drill
(Reuters, Sep. 22, 2008) Taiwan launched a week of low-key military drills on Monday, axing a live-fire display as the island seeks better ties with its wary political rival, China.

Taiwan Arms Thaw By Bill Gertz
(Washington Times, Sep. 18) The Pentagon is expected to notify Congress in the next several days that it wants approval to sell Taiwan a major arms package, which would end a freeze on arms sales to the island state imposed before the Beijing Olympics, according to a senior defense official.

US Arms Sale be Decided by New US President
(Taiwan News, Sep. 18, 2008) According to reliable sources from Washington D.C., seven US arms sale to Taiwan cases are discussed among various departments, and will be left to the new president taking office next year to decide.

US Clear Honeywell Work on Taiwan Fighter
(Reuters, Sep. 11, 2008) The U.S. State Department has cleared work valued at up to $1.1 billion by Honeywell International Corp on engines for a key Taiwan fighter aircraft even as it sits on Taiwan's new big-ticket requests.

Shanghai to Sound First Air Raid Since WWII
(Telegraph, Sep. 10, 2008) Shanghai, a city which Taiwan has threatened to bomb in the event of a Chinese invasion, is planning to sound its first city-wide air raid alert since the Second World War.

Taiwan Scraps Live-firing Demo
(AFP, Sep. 8, 2008) Taiwan is canceling its biggest live-firing military demonstration of the year, the defense ministry said on Monday in a nod to efforts to improve relations with China

Taiwanese Lawmaker Wants New Anti-China Missiles
(AP, Sep. 1, 2008) Taiwan should go ahead with plans to develop long-range cruise missiles capable of striking China even though its ties with Beijing are now warming, a ruling party lawmaker said Monday.

Report Says Taiwan Won’t Deploy Longer-range Missiles
(AFP, Sep. 1, 2008) Taiwan's China-friendly government has decided not to deploy missiles capable of hitting Shanghai, in yet another sign of warming ties between the rivals, a report said on Monday.

MND Optimistic about Buying U.S. Fighter Jets
(China Post, Sep. 1, 2008) The Ministry of National Defense (MND) expressed cautious optimism that the U.S government will eventually give its approval to the sale of F-16C/D fighter jets to Taiwan to help maintain air power balance over the Taiwan Strait.

Defense Budget for 2009 Lower than This Year: MND
(CNA, Aug. 30, 2008) A total of NT$315.2 billion (US$10.17 billion) will be allocated as the defense budget for 2009, NT$10.4 billion lower than the 2008 level, according to a national defense budget plan published yesterday.

U.S. Releases Harpoon Rounds to Taiwan
(DefenseNews, Aug. 26, 2008) The Harpoon release is considered a positive development after the Bush administration froze U.S. arms deals with Taipei until after the Olympic Games in Beijing.

Ma to Push for U.S. Arms Purchases for Taiwan
(AFP, Aug. 12, 2008) President Ma Ying-jeou yesterday said his administration would push ahead with plans to purchase arms from ally Washington while trying to improve ties with traditional rival China.

PRC Minister Sees ‘Positive Changes’ in Taiwan
(AP, Aug. 2, 2008) China's defense minister says Taiwan's domestic situation has undergone "positive changes," in a notable softening of rhetoric reflecting satisfaction with the election of Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou.

Military Aiming to Adopt All-Volunteer System
(China Post, Aug. 2, 2008) The military is aiming at overhauling its troops by adopting an all-volunteer system by 2013, the defense minister has revealed.

Taiwanese Official: White House Denies Freeze By John T. Bennett
(DefenseNews, Jul. 29, 2008) The Bush administration this week assured a senior Taiwanese legislator it has not frozen a $12 billion arms package Washington had intended to sell to Taipei.

Acquiring Subs from U.S. a Top Priority: Defense Ministry
(CNA, Jul. 29, 2008) The Ministry of National Defense is so far not aware of plans by Taiwan to build submarines locally, the MND spokeswoman said yesterday.

Top U.S. Expert Sees Arms Sales Moving Forward
(CNA, Jul. 26, 2008) Alan Romberg, who once served as deputy spokesman for the State Department, said he believes that the process of transferring the military hardware, except for F-16 C/D fighters, which are "in a different category," will begin within the next few weeks.

New Envoy Unaware of U.S. Arms Sale Freeze By Dimitri Bruvas
(China Post, Jul. 26, 2008) The new representative to the United States dismissed yesterday conflicting media reports on Washington's unilateral freeze on arms sales to Taiwan, stressing timing is the main concern.

U.S. Congresswoman Support Arms Sales
(CNA, Jul. 25, 2008) Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.) is asking her colleagues to cosponsor a resolution that she plans to introduce this week, which would require the Bush administration to consult with Congress on the development and execution of its arms transfer policy toward Taiwan.

Wolfowitz Says US will OK Taiwan Arms Deal
(AP, Jul. 23, 2008) President Bush is committed to an $11 billion arms package for Taiwan, former Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz said Wednesday, amid reports that the U.S. is freezing such sales to the island to avoid angering China.

US Policy on Arms Sales to Taiwan Unchanged: Official
(AFP, Jul. 18, 2008) The US policy on supplying arms to Taiwan remains unchanged, a State Department official said Friday, two days after a US admiral said Washington had frozen arms sales to the island.

Taiwan Expects U.S. Arms Sales to Taiwan to Proceed as Planned
(CNA, Jul. 18, 2008) Presidential Office spokesman Wang Yu-chi said Taiwan is hopeful that the U.S. weapons procurement plans will proceed based on arms procurement budgets approved by the Legislative Yuan last year.

Two Pilots Dead in Chopper Crash
(China Post, Jul. 17, 2008) A Taiwan military AH-1W Super Cobra attack helicopter crash-landed at a village in the northern county of Taoyuan yesterday, killing the two pilots, defense officials said.

US Admiral Acknowledges Arms Sales Freeze on Taiwan
(AFP, Jul. 16, 2008) The top US military commander in Asia acknowledged Wednesday that US arms sales to Taiwan had been frozen, amid warming ties between Beijing and Taipei and concerns expressed by China.

Taiwan to Hold War Game against Possible China Attack Despite Warming Ties (AP, Jul. 15, 2008) Taiwan will hold a large-scale war game to test its preparedness against a possible Chinese attack despite the recent warming in relations, the military said Tuesday.

Taiwan Needs Weapons from U.S.: President
(AP, Jul. 13, 2008) President Ma Ying-jeou said Saturday that the island needs to secure defensive weapons from the United States, despite warming relations with rival China.

US Senators Concerned by Arms Freeze
(Taipei Times, Jul. 9, 2008) The latest edition of Defense News reports that any attempts by Taipei to get arms sales back up and running could fall afoul of Beijing’s increasingly deft tactics and its growing clout in Washington.

Taiwan Parliament Restores Budget for Cruise Missile Production
(DPA, Jul. 3, 2008) Taiwan's parliament has restored the budget for mass-producing Hsiung Feng 2-E cruise missiles which reportedly can hit Shanghai and Hong Kong, a newspaper said on Friday.

Ma Says Taiwan Will Not Shrink from Beijing Threat
(AFP, Jul. 3, 2008) President Ma Ying-jeou on Wednesday said Taiwan would not shrink from a military showdown as China reportedly deployed new ballistic missiles targeting the island despite improving ties.

Taiwan Ends Modest Military Drill As China Ties Warm
(Reuters, Jun. 27, 2008) Taiwan quietly wrapped up a week of computer-simulated military exercises on Friday, keeping the annual island-wide training event low-key this year as relations improve with its old rival, China.

Cross-strait Dialogue Reduces Risk of War, Says Pentagon Official
(CNA, Jun. 27, 2008) The recent resumption of dialogue between Taiwan and China has helped lower the possibility of military conflicts in the Taiwan Strait, but the fact that the cross-strait military balance continues to tilt in favor of China has posed increased dangers in the region, a Pentagon official said Wednesday.

Taiwan War Game Simulates Attack from Rival China
(AP, Jun. 24, 2008) Taiwan began yesterday its annual computer-simulated war game that anticipates an invasion by China, despite warming ties between the island and its mainland rival.

US Arms Decision Made Last Christmas
(Taipei Times, Jun. 20, 2008) The decision by US President George W. Bush's administration to delay the processing of US$12 billion in arms sales to Taiwan dates back at least to last Christmas and recent requests by the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) government of President Ma Ying-jeou to further delay the process simply reaffirmed US policy.

China Urges US to End Weapon Sales to Taiwan
(AFP, Jun. 12, 2008) China urged the United States to permanently end arm sales to Taiwan, after Taipei reportedly called on Washington to postpone deliveries as it engaged Beijing in bilateral talks.

U.S. Freezes $12B in Arms Sales to Taiwan
(DefenseNews, Jun. 9, 2008) As China and Taiwan prepare for their first official talks in more than a decade, sources in both Taipei and Washington say the U.S. State Department has decided to freeze all congressional notifications for $12 billion worth of arms sales to Taiwan.

Goodwill Doesn’t Mean Peace: Defense Minister
(CNA, Jun. 5, 2008) Minister of National Defense Chen Chao min said yesterday that goodwill gestures by China do not mean lasting peace across the Taiwan Strait and that Taiwan's defense buildup will have to continue as scheduled.

KMT Chairman Suggests Missile Gesture
(Taipei Times, Jun. 2, 2008) Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Wu Poh-hsiung said yesterday that China could demonstrate its goodwill toward Taiwan by reducing the number of ballistic missiles it has pointing at Taiwan.

Military Personnel to Be Cut to 20,000: MND
(CNA, May 22, 2008 ) New minister of the Ministry of National Defense (MND) Chen Chao-min confirmed yesterday that his ministry will continue streamlining the military, with the ultimate goal of reducing the number of military personnel to 200,000.

US Defends Arms Sales to Taiwan, Criticizes Chinese Missile Buildup (AFP, May 16, 2008) Deputy Secretary of State John Negoponte said Washington had expressed concern to Beijing about its ongoing military buildup on its side of the strait separating the mainland and the Taiwan island. "We view China's buildup as unnecessary and counterproductive," he told a congressional hearing.

Washington to Keep Supplying Arms to Taiwan: US Envoy
(AFP, Apr. 30, 2008) Stephen Young, director of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), said the United States would continue to supply weapons to Taipei. "We also expect our traditional close security cooperation to continue.”

AIT Officials Attend Yushan Wargames, MOFA Official Says
(Taiwan News, Apr. 25, 2008) The Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday confirmed a local media report which said that the de facto United States ambassador in Taiwan, and several American officials had participated for the first time in the annual computerized crisis simulation drill, "Yushan Wargame."

Chen's Final 'Yushan Wargame' Begins
(Taiwan News, Apr. 23, 2008) The last of the annual computerized crisis simulation drills 'Yushan Wargame' to be staged during incumbent President Chen Shui-bian's tenure kicked off. Local top government officials were summoned to meet at emergency strategic commands around the island to simulate possible scenarios should a cross-strait war erupt.

China, U.S. Defense Chiefs Discuss Taiwan in First Phone Call
(AFP. Apr. 11, 2008) Chinese Defense Minister Liang Guanglie and U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates held their first phone talks, in which the Chinese official pushed for an end to U.S.-Taiwan military ties, state media reported.

Taiwan Ex-President to be Subpoenaed in High-Stakes Military Graft Case (Kyodo News, Apr. 10, 2008) A Taiwanese district court will subpoenae former president Lee Teng-hui and former premier Hau Pei-tsun on May 19, one day before president-elect Ma Ying-jeou takes office in a military corruption case that has rocked Taiwan and France and threatens to overshadow Ma's presidency.

Bush Tells Hu Shipment of Warhead Fuse to Taiwan a 'Mistake'
(AFP, Mar. 27, 2008) US President George W. Bush told his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao Wednesday that the Pentagon made a "mistake" by sending Taiwan four nuclear warhead fuses in 2006, a top White House official said.

Taiwan Says Did Not Dismantle U.S. Missile Parts
(Reuters, Mar. 27, 2008) Taiwan's defense minister on Thursday said the island did not dismantle and examine nuclear missile parts mistakenly shipped by the United States, in an incident which has angered China and embarrassed Washington.

Military Confirms US Missile Blunder
(Taipei Times, Mar. 27, 2008) The Ministry of National Defense (MND) confirmed that a batch of four nose-cone fuses for intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) that were accidentally shipped to Taiwan by the US in 2006 had been returned to the US. "The Pentagon initially asked us to handle the matter, but we could not. When it became apparent that the parts were prohibited military items that should not have left the [US] they stepped in to manage their return," said Vice Admiral Wu Wei-rong, director-general for the MND's Armaments Bureau.

China Concerned over U.S. Nuclear Parts Mistake in Taiwan
(Reuters, Mar. 26, 2008) China expressed deep concern and dissatisfaction with the United States after the Pentagon said to mistakenly shipping four fuses for nuclear missiles to Taiwan in 2006.

Ma Says That If Elected, He Will Invest 3% of GDP in National Defense (Taiwan News, Mar. 5, 2008) The opposition Kuomintang presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou said that if he is elected president he will see that his administration invests no less than 3 percent of the country's GDP in national defense, in order to ensure Taiwan's national security.

Taiwan Keeping Up on Defense: Report
(Taipei Times, Mar. 5, 2008) China's military advantage in the Taiwan Strait continues to grow, but the Legislative Yuan's decision last year to boost defense spending will help right the balance, the Pentagon said in its annual review of China's military.

Tsai Sworn in as Head of Defense
(China Post, Feb. 26, 2008) Tsai Ming-hsien, newly sworn in as minister of national defense, said yesterday he did not know if Taiwan Goal would be disbanded on time as a government-financed private company in charge of purchasing arms from abroad.

Gov't to Pull out from Private Arms Brokerage
(China Post, Feb. 24, 2008) The government will pull out from a private arms brokerage firm whose establishment has been wrongly condemned by the opposition and has caused the defense minister to resign, Premier Chang Chiun-hsiung decided.

Taiwan's Defense Minister Submits Resignation
(Bloomberg, Feb. 23, 2008) Taiwan's Defense Minister Lee Tien- yu submitted his resignation after parliament criticized the ministry's move to set up a company to handle arms purchases.

MND Sets Up Arms Procurement Company
(Taiwan News, Feb. 15, 2008) The Ministry of National Defense confirmed a local media report that the government had formed a private company in which will be responsible for future imports and exports of military-related technology. The name of the company is reportedly "Taiwan Goal," and Vice Premier Chiou I-jen and DPP New Wave faction leader Wu Nan-jen are reportedly heading the company.

U.S. to Wait for Taiwan Vote Before Jet Sales Possible
(Reuters, Feb. 2, 2008) Washington will only consider sales of F-16 fighter jets to Taiwan after the island elects a new president to avoid giving more teeth to the current administration that is hostile towards China, a member of the main opposition nationalist party said.

Taiwan's Chen Sees Jump in China Missile Build-Up
(Reuters, Jan. 1, 2008) Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian said China now had 1,328 ballistic missiles aimed at the self-ruled island, up by more than a third from a previous estimate, further threatening stability in the Taiwan Strait.

Pricing Taiwan’s Missile Defense By John Tkacik
(Taipei Times, Dec. 6, 2008) China’s missile deployments against Taiwan are the single most dangerous threat to the nation’s sovereignty, yet some insist that Taiwan either doesn’t need the PAC-3 missile defense system or that the US is trying to cheat Taiwanese taxpayers with hidden PAC-3 price tags — or both.

US Command Adjusts Its Strategy By Richard Halloran
(Taipei Times, Nov. 30, 2008) The US Pacific Command has fashioned a subtle revision in its strategy of reassuring friends and deterring potential enemies, notably China and North Korea.

Taking National Defense Seriously By Yu Tsung-chi
(Taipei Times, Nov. 13, 2008) Only if we are wise in our reliance on well-organized, well-equipped and well-trained ground forces can we be assured that a Chinese invasion would be met with the proper force.

F-16 Fighters—Lost in the Shuffle? By Robert Sutter
(Taipei Times, Nov. 4, 2008) Initiatives by President Ma Ying-jeou have created positive dynamics in cross-strait relations that are supported by many of Taiwan’s friends in the US. But the new situation has also influenced US decision-making on the Ma government’s request for 66 US F-16 jet fighters.

Silence is Golden By Joe Hung
(China Post, Oct. 23, 2008) Everybody knows it takes two to tango. Ma may declare no war on China but the People’s Republic may and can launch an invasion across the Strait, anytime it feels like to do so.

RAND Study Suggests U.S. Loses War with China By Wendell Minnick (DefenseNews, Oct. 16, 2008) A new RAND study suggests U.S. air power in the Pacific would be inadequate to thwart a Chinese attack on Taiwan in 2020.

CBM Obstacles for China and Taiwan By Wendell Minnick
(DefenseNews, Oct. 14, 2008) Taiwan conducted a one-day seminar on the complexities of cross-Strait relations between Beijing and Taipei that highlighted the importance and challenges of confidence-building measures.

US-Taiwan-China Relationship Back in Balance By Peter Evan
(AP, Oct. 8, 2008) Though China reacted angrily, the deal is a sign that the sometimes shaky three-way relationship between China, Taiwan and the U.S. is moving back into balance.

Taiwan Arms Deal Sours U.S.-China Relations By Jonathan Adams
(Christian Science Monitor, Oct. 6, 2008) Washington's approval of nearly $6.5 billion in arms sales to Taiwan Friday drew a relieved "thank you" from the self-governed island nation, but sharp rebukes from Beijing.

US Arms Sales and the ‘Status Quo’ By Yu Tsung-chi
(Taipei Times, Oct. 5, 2008) Washington should not ignore the fact that the mechanics of maintaining the status quo are based on a permanently ambiguous dual-deterrent strategy toward Beijing and Taipei. Any haphazard tilting toward either side will sabotage this dynamic equilibrium.

China Aims for Military Might By Thomas Harding
(Telegraph, Sep. 29, 2008) Senior defense analysts said that within the next decade the country will have an army that will be second only to America's military might which could "embolden" it to military action.

Taiwan’s Defense Hobbled by U.S. Arms “Freeze” By John J. Tkacik, Jr. (WebMemo #2088, Heritage Fundation, Sep. 27, 2008) The clock is winding down on the current U.S. congressional session, so it is looking increasingly likely that the decision to meet Taiwan’s defense needs will fall to the next Administration.

Taking a Lesson from Clausewitz By James Holmes
(Taipei Times, Sep. 8, 2008) With US military supremacy on the wane in Asia, moreover, the probable magnitude and duration of a conflict in China’s backyard will rise. Clausewitzian logic suggests Washington may hesitate in a time of crisis.

Military Challenges for the Kuomintang By Andrei Chang
(UPI, Jul. 23, 2008) In terms of Taiwan’s general strategic posture, the military machinery that the Kuomintang has inherited after winning the general election recently is in fact in a state of crisis. Taiwan’s military build-up has been neglected for eight years.

Door on Arms Sales Not Closed Yet By Edward Chen
(Taipei Times, Jul. 20, 2008) Washington has been sending various messages through different channels, making it safe to say that the US is not interested in blocking arms sales to Taiwan. On the contrary, the US wants the Ma administration to officially declare its stance on arms procurement.

Bush Should Keep His Words on Taiwan By Dan Blumenthal, Aaron Friedberg, Randall Schriver, and Ashley J. Tellis (Wall Street Journal, Jul. 19, 2008) At stake is not only the defense of a democratic friend, but the credibility of the Ma government. Also at stake are America's commitment to protect its long-term interests throughout the Asia-Pacific, and Mr. Bush's determination to defend freedom.

Arming Taiwan By Ed Ross
(Wall Street Journal, Jul. 18, 2008) By taking action on U.S. arms sales to Taiwan before he leaves office, President Bush would bolster a democratic Taiwan and make it much easier for his successor to withstand pressure from Beijing as arms sales contracts are concluded and weapons systems are delivered.

Taiwan’s Defense Budget Dilemma: How Much is Enough in an Era of Improving Cross-Strait Relations? By Michael S. Chase (China Brief, Jamestown Foundation, Jul. 17, 2008) It seems likely that simultaneously moving ahead with planned major procurement programs and completing the transition to an all-volunteer military will require increases in defense spending to even greater than 3% of GDP.

The Pentagon-PLA Disconnect: China’s Self Assessments of Its Military Capabilities By Dennis J. Blasko (China Brief, Jamestown Foundation, Jul. 4, 2008) Since 2006, the official Chinese media has published repeatedly a general assessment of Chinese military capabilities—sometimes called the “two incompatibles” or “two cannot suits”—that identifies surprising limitations for the force.

Sources Reinforce US Role in Arms Sales By Charles Snyder
(TT, Jul. 3, 2008) The decision to freeze the processing of a US$12 billion package of weapons sales to Taiwan appears to be a product of US President George W. Bush’s desire not to offend China at a critical time and, perhaps, a general weariness with cross-strait issues as Bush’s term comes to an end, several sources close to the matter said.

Actions More Important Than Words By Lin Cheng-yi
(Taipei Times, Jun. 16, 2008) Through its missile deployment, Beijing is trying to kill many birds with one stone. While a reduction of missiles would have a political and psychological impact on Taiwan, the US is still the main recipient of Beijing’s demands.

Top U.S. Officials Stalling Taiwan Arms Package By Glenn Kessler
(Washington Post, Jun. 12, 2008) Top Bush administration officials are delaying a long-promised $11 billion arms package for Taiwan, raising the possibility that the issue will be left for the next president, according to sources inside and outside the administration.

Taiwan Issues Discussed Backstage at Shangri-La By Wendell Minnick (DefenseNews, Jun. 2, 2008) Chinese, Taiwanese and U.S. delegates at the 7th annual summit expressed both hope and fear that new negotiations by China and Taiwan could end in either détente or disaster.

In China, Experts on Alert for Quake Damage to Nuclear Facilities (International Herald Tribune, May 16, 2008) China's main centers for designing, making and storing nuclear arms lie in the shattered earthquake zone, leading Western experts to look for signs of any damage that might allow radioactivity to escape. A senior U.S. official said the United States was using spy satellites and other means to try to monitor the sprawling nuclear plants. "There appear to be no immediate concerns," the official said.

Eisenhower Advisers Discussed Using Nuclear Weapons in China
(Washington Post, Apr. 30, 2008) Senior Air Force officers proposed using 10-to-15-kiloton nuclear bombs against targets in Communist China in 1958, in the event that Beijing blockaded the Taiwan Strait, but President Dwight D. Eisenhower ruled out that option, according to a newly declassified Pentagon document.

Taiwan Must Review Security Risks By Mark Stokes
(Taipei Times, Mar. 12, 2008) The recent US Department of Defense report on PRC military modernization is a useful reminder of the challenges posed by China's rise as a major regional power. This year's report is the most detailed and insightful to date and a number of issues are worthy of consideration for Taiwan.

A SMART Strategy for National Security By Ma Ying-jeou
(February 26, 2008) to achieve our national security objectives, Taiwan needs to be SMART. The S in SMART stands for soft power. The M in SMART stands for Military Deterrence. The A in SMART stands for Assuring the Status Quo. The R in START stands for Restoring Mutual Trust. These four concept pillars hold up the final idea in SMART, the T that stands for Taiwan.

Taiwan Faces Better PLA Ability By Andrei Chang
(United Press International, Jan. 26, 2008) The appearance of Chinese editions of expeditionary fighting vehicles (CEFV/CAAAV amphibious assault vehicles) has fundamentally changed the mode of cross-sea combat operations in the Taiwan Strait, making beyond-vision landing assaults possible. The practical significance is that these vehicles can greatly suppress and weaken the artillery projection capability of the Taiwanese ground forces.

China Planning Taiwan Strait Route for Commercial Aviation By David Lague (International Herald Tribune, Jan. 6, 2008) China plans to open a new commercial aviation route through the Taiwan Strait in a move that officials in Taipei said was a threat to regional peace and a danger to air safety. The new route between Hong Kong and Shanghai would track just inside the Chinese side of the unofficial dividing line through the middle of the Taiwan Strait, an area that both sides have mostly avoided since the 1950s.

China's Ability to Sustain War By Andrei Chang
(United Press International, Jan. 4, 2008) Should a conflict break out across the Taiwan Strait, Taiwanese forces would face a grave shortage of ammunition after just seven days of fighting. Even though China has a much greater stockpile of ammunition than Taiwan, it would also encounter similar problems in a sustained conflict.