Information
The US State Department and Pentagon have approved a military sale to Taiwan worth approximately $360 million, including drones and related equipment. This sale, aimed at enhancing Taiwan’s security, political stability, military balance, and economic progress, includes Switchblade anti-personnel and anti-armour loitering munitions and ALTIUS 600M-V drones. These loitering munitions are known for their ability to wait and circle near a target before striking at a strategic moment. Taiwan’s Defense Ministry expressed gratitude, especially for the increased shipment volume, addressing previous concerns about delayed deliveries.
The US regularly exports military goods to Taiwan, which often draws disapproval from China, as China considers Taiwan part of its territory. The US must balance its “One China” policy with its legal obligation to support Taiwan’s defence capabilities, a task that has become more complex with China’s growing military power. The State Department emphasized that the sale aligns with US national, economic, and security interests by aiding Taiwan’s military modernization and defensive credibility. This decision comes amid rising tensions between the US and China over support for Taiwan.
Source: DW, AP, Reuters
So what
This is likely part of the US defensive plan for Taiwan that would see them use large numbers of attack drones against the Chinese invasion force, turning the channel into one big kill zone. This strategy, or at least the concept of this strategy is likely designed to make the idea of an invasion seem untenable. The rise of both maritime and aerial attack drones in Ukraine almost certainly informed this plan, with them showing how they can be super effective against an invading force, while also reducing the risk to defenders. Although this appears like a solid defensive strategy, China can likely look to mitigate it through the use of overwhelming numbers, high-powered electronic countermeasures, or some other tactic we are yet to see.
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