U.S. arms sales to Taiwan to make it hard for China to invade: Ex-U.S. admiral

Washington, Dec. 23 (CNA) Retired U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Mark Montgomery said on Tuesday that the United States' latest arms sales to Taiwan are expected to make it difficult for China to invade Taiwan.

Last week, the U.S. government announced the potential sale of eight arms packages to Taiwan -- including U.S.-made M109A7 howitzers, HIMARS rocket systems, anti-tank missiles, and drones -- at an estimated total cost of US$11.1 billion.

"This package is full of weapons that will make a Chinese lodgment on Taiwan difficult to execute and sustain," said Montgomery, who is currently a senior fellow of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, a Washington think tank.

In an email reply to CNA's request for comment on the arms sales, Montgomery praised the effectiveness of the ground-based systems and munitions, such as M109A7 howitzers, HIMARS, Javelin and TOW, against China's military.

One highlight of the arms sales, Montgomery said, is the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) package worth about US$1 billion, which will serve as "an important part of counter-intervention abilities both in the maritime and ashore."

But Montgomery said he was disappointed that in the arms sales package the U.S. government will still not provide E-2D early warning and command and control aircraft.

"These are cost effective aircraft necessary for the coordination of Taiwan's fighter aircraft (F-16s) and air defense systems," he said.

Earlier this year, military sources warned that extensive harassment by Chinese fighter jets means that it is necessary for Taiwan to purchase E-2D early warning aircraft to replace its current E-2K early warning aircraft.

The latest arms sales announcement was the second announcement of arms sales to Taiwan by Washington since Donald Trump returned to the White House earlier this year.