China's recent arms deal may worsen Taiwan-China imbalance: experts
Central News Agency
2013/03/25 21:54:46
Taipei, March 25 (CNA) Local military experts expressed concerns Monday that China's latest purchase of jet fighters and submarines from Russia may weaken Taiwan's 'qualitative' advantage in military capability.
According to the agreement, 24 Su-35 multirole jet fighters and four Lada class air-independent propulsion submarines, which were built jointly by China and Russia, including the Amur-1650 and Amur-950, were on China's procurement list.
Taiwan's plans in enhancing the performance of F-16A/B fighters or procurement of F-16C/D from the U.S. have fallen behind China's construction and purchase of military hardware, said Shih Hsiao-wei, an editor with the Taiwan-based Defence International magazine.
He said that unless Taiwan buys the next-generation jet fighters F-35, Taiwan's edge in military quality may gradually disappear because China will earn both quality and quantity in military capability.
Additionally, he said that China's purchase of the latest model of the diesel-electric submarines is expected to strengthen its ability to ambush U.S. military in the first and second island chains.
Pi Yun-hao, editor-in-chief of the Defense Technology Monthly, also pointed out that China continues to add budget to its national defense and replace old weapons with new weapon purchases. The procurement of Su-35 and Lada class submarines will improve its combat level effectively.
The arm sale, estimated at US$1.5 billion, was China's new leader Xi Jinping's latest agreement with Russia during his recent visit there.
The fighters and submarines were scheduled for shipment after 2015.
(By Rogge Chen and Nell Shen)
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