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.
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.
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! 😀
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?!! 😀
Say Simba
Google Srebrenica Massacre
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
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.
Sudarshan Devapriya Sandarasekera That’s not what China thinks. In order to make China a great country, nuke or war is acceptable to them.
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.
Peaple can say this or that, but remember we cannot stop China from invation any way. Let’s them decide at last!!!
Gents, we dont need any of nukes or wars.
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 !
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 !
Dencio Alejandro Antonio
China, the peaceful and global champion of progressive development must be supported!!! 😀
Wahahaha! I repeat, Wahahaha!
Edward Leung China the global bully! She must be stopped!
Taiwan should arm itself to the teeth to prevent a Chinese invation! US military hardware are no match to China’s!
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.