Why Taiwan may ultimately benefit from delays to US weapons delivery
- The late delivery of Paladin howitzers and Stinger anti-aircraft missiles – as a result of the Ukraine war – is unlikely to have an immediate impact
- But analysts say the island may instead seek more powerful weapons, including missiles than can target ships across the Taiwan Strait
Delayed weapons deliveries to Taiwan are unlikely to have an immediate impact on the island’s defences, but Taiwan may use the delay to request more advanced weapons from the United States, analysts have said.
The Ukraine war has delayed the delivery of at least two weapon systems – Stinger anti-aircraft missiles and Paladin self-propelled howitzers – because US arms production has been straining to meet demand from Ukraine.
Lu Li-shih, a former instructor at Taiwan’s Naval Academy, said the delay might give Taiwan an opportunity to upgrade the weapon lists it had ordered from the US.
Washington has promised to give Taipei alternative offers if the howitzers cannot be delivered on time.
One possible option is to order more High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) – a more powerful weapon with a maximum operation range of up to 500km (30 miles), compared with 30km for the Paladins.
“Unlike the howitzer, the HIMARS is an offensive weapon that could stage frontline strikes, that means PLA warships could be hit on the mainland coasts once they are going to cross Taiwan Strait,” Lu said.