Would they really help Taiwan deter China?
The National Interestg
Date: December 17, 2019
By: Zachary Keck
Key point: Taiwan has long been interested in purchasing M1A2 tanks from the United States.
.Taiwan is once again interested in purchasing Abrams tanks from the United States.
This week the Hong Kong–based South China Morning Post reported that Taiwan’s Minister of National Defense, Yen Teh-fa, told a legislative panel that Taipei is still interested in purchasing U.S.-made M1A2 Abrams tanks. Citing Taiwan’s United Daily News, South China Morning Post said that Taiwan’s Defense Ministry is initially interested in buying two battalions (or 108) of M1A2 tanks. Ultimately, the Taiwanese military hopes to purchase even more tanks from Washington.
Yen said that the tanks would provide the last line of defense against a Chinese invasion. Besides immediately improving Taiwan’s combat readiness, he indicated that the sale would also involve technology transfers that could enhance the country's domestic arms industry.
The M1A2 is the third iration of the M1 Abrams tanks after the original and the M1A1. Washington first authorized production of the M1A2 tank in 1990, according to Military.com, and it first entered into service in 1992. The same source notes that the M1A2 has a similar exterior to its predecessor, with the biggest change on the outside of the tank being the “redesigned Commander's Weapon Station (CWS) and the addition of a Commander's Independent Thermal Viewer on the left side of the turret forward of the loader's hatch.” [FULL STORY]