Are Arms Sales to Taiwan Necessary?

The opinion piece (Right the Military Balance in the Taiwan Straits by James Holmes and Toshi Yoshihara, March 5, 2001) left me with several questions.

What role have past US arms sales to Taiwan, including advanced fighter jets, played in prompting China to purchase new weapons from Russia?  Are the Russian diesel submarines really any match for the American nuclear submarines that undoubtedly patrol those waters? To what extent is the US already sharing intelligence information with Taiwan about Chinese capabilities and threats?

The authors' only discuss arms sales as a means to remedy the current situation, but are there indications that diplomacy might offer a longer-term solution? Will arms sales help force the diplomatic hand? What are America's vital national interests in Taiwan, and will supporting these interests with arms sales lead us to a resolution of this problem? Will the proposed missile defense shield increase tensions between China, Taiwan, and the US, leading to further arms buildups? To what extent, if any, will American tax dollars bankroll these arms sales?

Selling weapons seems like an easy solution, and one that the US defense industry is undoubtedly lobbying for, but perhaps the money would be better spent on diplomatic efforts and building economic ties.

Dan Fahey
MALD '02 

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