【Japanese media: Taiwan no longer prioritizes buying fighter jets and warships】

On December 17, the United States announced eight arms sales to Taiwan with a total amount exceeding 11.1 billion US dollars. Regarding this arms deal, "Nikkei Asia" reported on December 20 that the weapons in this arms sale have all been tested in combat on the battlefield in Ukraine, with the "Himars" and "Javelin" being typical examples. Moreover, this arms sale marks a further shift in the direction of U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, moving from high-cost equipment such as fighter jets and warships that the Taiwanese authorities have preferred in recent years, to more focused weapon systems aimed at preventing the People's Liberation Army (PLA) from landing.

A U.S. government source told "Nikkei Asia" when talking about this arms sale: At the beginning of this year, the Taiwanese authorities kept trying to seek the purchase of high-cost weapons platforms such as fighter jets and warships, hoping to convey a symbolic message to the outside world. However, they now have to be pragmatic and change the priority order of military purchases. The main reasons for this are two-fold: first, the impression left by the PLA's military exercises around Taiwan in August 2022, and second, the successful and insufficient experiences shown by Ukraine on the battlefield.

Retired U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Montgomery said: For Taiwan, it must implement an "asymmetric" strategy. This eight-item arms sale includes various "asymmetric" weapons. Their main operational role is to "counter landings," increasing the cost of PLA landing operations and preventing the PLA from establishing beachheads in Taiwan.

In fact, since the Biden era, Americans have consistently urged the Taiwanese authorities to purchase "asymmetric" weapons. However, there have always been opinions within the Taiwanese military, because this is purely defensive warfare, and it hands over the initiative of the battlefield to others.

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1852027860387015/

Statement: This article represents the views of the author himself.