Taiwan: Major U.S. Arms Sales Since 1990

Abstract

This report, updated as warranted, discusses U.S. security assistance to Taiwan, or Republic of China (ROC), including policy issues for Congress and legislation. Congress has oversight of the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA), P.L. 96-8, which has governed arms sales to Taiwan since 1979, when the United States recognized the People s Republic of China (PRC) instead of the ROC. Two other relevant parts of the one China policy are the August 17, 1982, U.S.-PRC Joint Communique and the Six Assurances to Taiwan. U.S. arms sales to Taiwan have been significant. The United States also expanded military ties with Taiwan after the PRC s missile firings in 1995-1996. However, the U.S.-ROC Mutual Defense Treaty terminated in 1979. At the last U.S.-Taiwan annual arms sales talks on April 24, 2001, President George W. Bush approved for possible sale diesel-electric submarines, P-3 anti-submarine warfare (ASW) aircraft (linked to the submarine sale), four decommissioned U.S. Kidd-class destroyers, and other items. Bush also deferred decisions on Aegis-equipped destroyers and other items, while denying other requests. Afterward, attention turned to Taiwan, where the military, civilian officials, and legislators from competing political parties debated contentious issues about how much to spend on defense and which U.S. weapons to acquire, despite the increasing threat (including a missile buildup) from the People s Liberation Army (PLA). The Pentagon also has broadened its concern from Taiwan s arms purchases to its defense spending, seriousness in self-defense and protection of secrets, joint capabilities, deterrence, operational readiness, critical infrastructure protection, and innovative, asymmetrical advantages. Blocked by the Kuomintang (KMT) party in the Legislative Yuan (LY) that opposed the Democratic Progressive Party s (DPP s) president (2000-

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jul 03, 2013
Accession Number
ADA604153

Entities

People

  • Shirley Kan

Organizations

  • Library of Congress

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Ground and Sea Platforms
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Aircraft Equipment
  • Aircraft Industry
  • Aircrafts
  • Airframes
  • Anti-Tank Missiles
  • Antisubmarine Aircraft
  • Birds
  • Boats
  • Defense Systems
  • Department Of State
  • Electronically Scanned Array
  • Military Science
  • National Politics
  • National Security
  • Navy
  • Warfare

Fields of Study

  • Political science

Readers

  • Asian Economic Studies
  • Government and Public Administration Law.