Around 250 FIM-92 Stinger MANPADS (Man-Portable Air-Defense System) missiles, torpedo service-life extension packs, and Standard Missile 2 spare modules are among the latest batch of arms that Taiwan is to take delivery of from the United States for its navy and marine corps.
Taiwan’s National Defense Ministry announced the implementation of the deal, worth NT$13.35 billion (US$453.6 million), on Monday.
“Shipments are already on the way,” a Taiwanese defense official told the Central News Agency.
The Stinger missiles are of the lightweight, shoulder-fired, infrared-homing surface-to-air type but are versatile enough to be launched from tanks, other vehicles and helicopters.
The lethality and economy of these missiles have long been proved in numerous wars including the Soviet incursion in Afghanistan and the Syrian Civil War since their introduction in the early 1980s by the US Army. They are used by militaries across the globe.
It is rumored that the US Secret Service has Stinger missiles to defend the president, a notion that has never been dispelled.
The Taiwanese Army will take delivery of the missiles later this year.
In addition to marine infantry battalions, units slated to receive the Stinger missiles include the navy’s Guang Hua VI-class fast attack boats and Tuo Jiang-class corvettes, which currently lack adequate anti-aircraft weaponry, Taipei Times reported, citing a source in the Defense Ministry.
The Stinger missiles are meant to provide much-needed anti-aircraft firepower to the navy’s smaller combat craft and augment the survivability of ships and marines, while increasing the attrition rate of a foe’s air units, the source said.
The deals were signed with the American Institute in Taiwan – Washington’s de facto embassy on the island Beijing insists is a renegade province of China – in December 2015 after the Barack Obama administration cleared the way for such sale, at a time when Sino-US ties were still amicable.
The stated contractual time frame for the Stinger missile deal covers 2017 to 2020.
“Standard Missile” refers to a family of US-made shipborne guided missiles. Analysts say it’s likely that the spare modules sold to Taiwan are for the RIM-67 Standard ER extended-range surface-to-air and anti-ship missiles, for Taiwan to assemble its own copycat versions to fend off an invasion from the People’s Republic of China in the event of a war, as well as to discourage the People’s Liberation Army’s incessant sea-air intrusions into Taiwan’s defense zones since last year.
The actual commencement of delivery of these arms will once again rile Beijing, though the Chinese Foreign Ministry is yet to state any response.
By purchasing Stingers, ROC Taiwan Ministry of Defence is admitting the following:
1. Taiwan has no effective air defense capabilities.
2. Taiwan’s Air Force can be considered ineffectual in the event of war.
3. Taiwan’s skies will be in the effective control of mainland China.
4. Taiwan’s last effective defense is guerrilla style warfare.
5. The present conventional makeup of Taiwan’s military is completely useless.
6. Don’t buy hundreds of millions or billion USD $ items because they’re useless big ticket items that are only flown or paraded on national day or media public relations day.
😀 lol… …
Edward, it’s amazing. EVERYTHING you said was wrong. Absolutely everything. 1. Taiwan has effective air defense capabilities or the Chinese would attack. Buying new missiles keeps that air defense capability effective and up to day. You must be totally ignorant of military affairs to have missed that one. Or you’re a stooge of the murderous thugs in Beijing. 2. Pretty much the same as 2. Every effective military in the world strives to maintain an AA capability as well as an effective air force. None of this is new. How did you miss the brief? 3: Nothing said in the article indicates that. Your total ignorance is once again displayed. 4: Taiwan’s first effective defense are it’s missiles, both US and Taiwanese made, that can hit targets anywhere in the straits. It’s second effective defense are hundreds of main battle tanks and several thousand artillery pieces that can slaughter the landing craft before they touch ground. Guerilla warfare is a totally useless option- the PLA proved in Tibet and again in Tienanmin Square that they are willing to exterminate as many people as needed to rule. Taiwan is too small for guerilla war and planning on it is a waste of time. 5: Again, wrong. The current status shows that Taiwan’s military is sufficient to deter Chinese invasion or they would not be posturing and threatening like the chinese equivalent of the Big Bad Wolf facing the house made of brick. 6: LOL back at you, oh ignorant one. Saddam Hussein was contemptuous of American weapons as well. Until they destroyed him military. You know who’s big, shiny weapons are paraded a lot and have NEVER been used in combat? The PLA’s! China has a ton of missiles, planes, tanks and warships that have NEVER been tested in combat. Whatever Beijing is paying you as one of their propaganda mouthpieces, they are NOT getting their moneys worth.
The Stinger missiles will turn China’s invasion which expected to last in weeks, into years of Vietnam war or Afghanistan war were over 200 Soviet aircrafts shoot down by CIA supported 340 Stinger missiles. Only such nightmare will discourage China’s intension to invade democratic Taiwan.
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Timothy McFadden
You have no clue. I read only about half of your delusional rant because you don’t know who and why a militia would use the Stinger type of weapon. When you have something truthful and relevant, I would like to hear it. Your general statements reveal only your average, general understanding. Nice try, but it doesn’t cut it.
I agree. Taking territory by force is never easy, but China’s consideration of the USA as a deterrent is diminishing. Even America’s direct military involvement in the event of China militarily conquering Taiwan is not guaranteed. That being said, China doesn’t have any intention to militarily invade Taiwan regardless of the BS bar room talks. And the "ultimate truth" you’re speaking is partially true and limited in analysis.
You’ve overestimated the numbers of Soviet downed aircraft that can be attributable to the Stinger. The Vietnamese didn’t have Stingers. And no, the Stingers will not be the key to turning a less than a week invasion into years. lol…. … That’s stretching it into fantasy world.
It would be suicidal for communist China’s helicopter pilots to mess with Taiwan’s army armed with Stinger missiles.
And keep in mind that the last two U.S. presidential candidates seriously contemplated negotiating Taiwan away to CPC China for something in return. Officially CPC rejected, but behind closed doors!?! Who really knows?!?
China possess only 250 to 300 nuclear warheads, compare to America with almost 7000 nuclear deployed and ready for tactical deployment anywhere in the world, so much enough to destroy the whole humankind. China in reality is far very far compare TO America.THis is all known even 1960 and beyond
梁雪強
The impact of the Stinger on the outcome of the war is contested, particularly in the translation between the impact on the tactical battlefield to the strategic level withdrawal, and the influence the first had on the second.[16] Dr. Robert F. Baumann (of the Staff College at Fort Leavenworth) described its impact on "Soviet tactical operations" as "unmistakable". [17][18] This opinion was shared by Yossef Bodansky.[19][16] Soviet, and later, Russian, accounts give little significance to the Stinger for strategically ending the war.[14][20][21]
According to the 1993 US US Air Defense Artillery Yearbook, the Mujahideen gunners used the supplied Stingers to score approximately 269 total aircraft kills in about 340 engagements, a 79-percent kill ratio.[22] If this report is accurate, Stingers would be responsible for over half of the 451 Soviet aircraft losses in Afghanistan.[16] But these statistics are based on Mujahedin self-reporting, which is of unknown reliability. Selig Harrison rejects such figures, quoting a Russian general who claims the United States "greatly exaggerated" Soviet and Afghan aircraft losses during the war. According to Soviet figures, in 1987-1988, only 35 aircraft and 63 helicopters were destroyed by all causes.[23] The Pakistan Army fired twenty-eight Stingers at enemy aircraft without a single kill.[16]
However, Soviet Material losses were as follows:
451 aircraft (includes 333 helicopters)
147 tanks
1,314 IFV/APCs
433 artillery guns and mortars
11,369 cargo and fuel tanker trucks.
All above information comes from Wikipedia.
We believe the best way to defend Taiwan is to fight just like what Churchill had said:
“We shall defend our Island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender.”
Those Stingers will augment what Taiwan already have. It is foolish to even think that "Taiwan has no effective air defense capabilities", they have combat aircrafts such as F-16s and Dassault Mirage 2000. And last I checked Taiwan has 400 of them.
Oh, did I forgot to mention they also have Patriot Missile, Sky Bow SAM and AAA guns as well?!
Ipe Almenario
Yes, I know what they have. Taiwan’s air force will be rendered useless against a war with mainland China. If Taiwan were to wage a war with another Asian country, then ROC Taiwan’s Air Force will be effective.
Bull shit
Venugopal Gopalsamy
You like bull shit?! Is that what you’re trying to preach here? 😀
Kier Valdez no one knows the exact amount of nuclear warheads China has. No one also knows the exact amount of $billions China spends on its military. Even the CIA suspects the numbers might be more higher than what is given on the media.
Jack Sung your a genius sir, I believe everything what you said, all are genuine, exact and accurate.
I call on the Chinese congress to make available seats for all Taiwanese Parliamentarians in exchange for two seats in the Taiwanese legislature in a bid to speed up unification and promote peace.
Venugopal Gopalsamy China doesn’t need to invade. Time will see Taiwan dropped nicely in to China’s lap; possibly as a result of some dodgy deal cook up between China & the US. Pragmatism & time will work in China’s favour.
There are seats set aside for Taiwanese delegates but Taiwan, as the RoC, refuses to send delegates; especially as the two sides are still ‘at war’. Indeed, one of Ma Yingjiu’s aims during his second term as president was to try and bring the civil war to a formal close.
Taiwan should arm itself to the teeth to prevent a Chinese invation! US military hardware are no match to China’s!
Edward Leung China the global bully! She must be stopped!
Wahahaha! I repeat, Wahahaha!
Dencio Alejandro Antonio
China, the peaceful and global champion of progressive development must be supported!!! 😀
China will pee in its pants if it dare attack Taiwan – which has far more regional support available – and that support from both the flanks (???) will arrive much earlier than any of the US hardware from across teh seas/skies !
China will need to think vey hard if it dares attacking Taiwan – which has far more regional support available – and that support from both the flanks (???) will arrive much earlier than any of the US hardware from across the seas/skies. Much the same regional supprt is available to South Korea. Ever heard of "IIJ" link ? Wake up boys !
Gents, we dont need any of nukes or wars.
Peaple can say this or that, but remember we cannot stop China from invation any way. Let’s them decide at last!!!
Kier Valdez Quoting a rascist mass murderer like Churchill(chosing to kill more then 2 million indians, just like that with a pen stroke) is not helping you cause.
Sudarshan Devapriya Sandarasekera That’s not what China thinks. In order to make China a great country, nuke or war is acceptable to them.
Sounds like someone is trying to earn that 1 RMB the Ministry of Propaganda gives to all who post such responses in Western media. Stingers are highly effective weapon systems more often than not meant to supplement air defense capabilty already fielded. In this case, small unit navy and marine personnel operating in the straits. This latest sale raises the defense capability of small units offshore and projects exponentially destructive power against larger enemy airborne elements that would threaten Taiwan. There is a lot more throughout the country backing this up. The PLA knows better than to take on Taiwan in a military engagement, otherwise they would have already tried it. The PLA is still smarting from UN criticism for the first showing of its troops in peacekeeping operatiobs abroad. In late 2016 the massacre and rapes of thousands of Sudanese took place because Chinese soldiers abandoned their positions around the refugee camp at the approach of rebels, even abandoning their weapons as they fled to their compound. It took the Indian army peace keepers to finally coax the PLA soldiers out of their hiding places. That is the real reason President Xi dressed down the army last month by saying training has to change and be more realistic. He remembers all too well those Vietnamese women’s militia battalions that repelled the PLA in 1979, when China invaded its neighbor to the south, killing over 25,000, or as some academics report, upwards to 60,000 PLA soldiers. The PLA is a party defence arm that suppresses dissent and rebellion within China. It has a long way to go before it can take on Taiwan in a straight up throw down.
Say Simba
lol… … Earning your pension supplement here. At the same time spreading divisive propaganda about Chinese and Indian U.N. peacekeepers.
So sad… btw, it was Dutch peacekeeping troops who stood by and did nothing as refugees sheltering at a U.N. compound were massacred. As a result of this embarrassment, it caused a reevaluation of western involvement in future peacekeeping missions.
https://youtu.be/-tQCQzdfnKc
Say Simba
Google Srebrenica Massacre
The U.N. has praised both Chinese and Indian peacekeeping troops. Their contributions are very much appreciated. Where are you getting your propaganda info from Say Simba?
btw, also Google Cham People of Vietnam
The real genocide of a people and their culture, but completely ignored by the western mainstream media, and so-called NGO’s such as Human Rights Watch. I suppose when the Obama administration actively tried to turn Vietnam into a puppet friend, the western MSM obediently toes their line.
Who’s trying to earn some extra money here by spreading false propaganda again?!! 😀
Aaron Steven Thoming
Propaganda and slander is a common trait amongst propagandists and the 50 cent army. I see you’ve received your 50 cents. Don’t spend it all at once dude! 😀
Aaron Steven Thoming
When you cheap 50 cents army dudes get over your sore butts, and can refute comments with logic and facts, I’ll be right here waiting.