Future Retirement Success
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Investing
  • Stocks
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Investing
  • Stocks

Future Retirement Success

Investing

Taiwan Arms Backlog, May 2024 Update

by June 3, 2024
June 3, 2024
Taiwan Arms Backlog, May 2024 Update

Eric Gomez and Benjamin Giltner

The backlog of US arms sales to Taiwan did not change in May 2024. Congress was not notified of any new arms sales, and there was no indication that any backlogged arms sales arrived in Taiwan. Per Figures 1 and 2, the backlog remains valued at $19.7 billion, with a majority of the backlog ($10.87 billion) consisting of traditional capabilities.

In Table 1, we have opted to keep the two sales of HIMARS—an original $436 million sale for 11 launchers and $520 million more for 18 additional launchers—as separate items instead of combining the two. The two sales have separate delivery timelines. Disaggregating them makes it easier to track the change in the backlog’s dollar value.

Taiwan was a very busy place despite the lack of change in the arms sale backlog.

Lai Ching‐​te officially became Taiwan’s new president on May 20. Shortly after the inauguration, China conducted large‐​scale military exercises around Taiwan, though Chinese ships and aircraft stayed outside of Taiwan’s territorial waters and airspace. The exercises were similar to those held in August 2022 after then‐​Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan.

Several members of Congress also visited Taiwan in late May to signal US support for the Lai administration and to reassure Taipei that US weapons are on the way. Assuming there are no new delays, Taiwan should receive its first tranches of newly‐​built F‑16s, Abrams tanks, and HIMARS launchers by the end of 2024, which will put a big dent in the backlog.

Additionally, it will be interesting to see what the first US arms sale to the Lai administration will be. Taiwan’s outgoing President Tsai Ing‐​wen frequently stressed the need for more asymmetric weapons and Taiwan’s military made some important investments in these capabilities during her tenure. However, Taiwan’s military has resisted fully embracing an asymmetric defense posture, and 55 percent of the backlog’s dollar value is for capabilities that are both more expensive and less likely to survive long in a conflict with China.

Taiwan Arms Backlog Dataset, May 2024 

0
FacebookTwitterGoogle +Pinterest
previous post
Leftist Victory in Mexico Puts Freedom at Risk
next post
Trump verdict fires up the donor class leading to massive May fundraising haul

You may also like

“Our Allies Then Bent Over Backwards to Help...

March 11, 2024

Friday Feature: Masterpiece Academy

June 28, 2024

Does Congress Really Believe it Can Thwart the...

December 13, 2023

CrowdStrike is the Latest Example of the “Brussels...

August 6, 2024

A New Underground Market in E‑Cigarettes Will Soon...

June 5, 2023

The War on Drugs is Also a War...

April 1, 2024

1.8 Million in Employment-Based Green Card Backlog

August 29, 2023

School Choice Madness: How I Picked My Teams

March 21, 2025

House Budget Committee Advances Fiscal Commission to Address...

January 23, 2024

FISA Reform: Dueling Proposals,Ticking Clock

December 5, 2023

    Get free access to all of the retirement secrets and income strategies from our experts! or Join The Exclusive Subscription Today And Get the Premium Articles Acess for Free

    By opting in you agree to receive emails from us and our affiliates. Your information is secure and your privacy is protected.

    Recent Posts

    • DAVID MARCUS: Zany Zohran endorsement is existential choice for Hakeem Jeffries

      July 26, 2025
    • FTC firings take spotlight in Trump’s fight to erase independence of agencies

      July 26, 2025
    • DNI Tulsi Gabbard declassified Trump-Russia docs: Here’s what they say

      July 26, 2025
    • Trump signs rescissions package, closes out week with trip to Scotland

      July 26, 2025
    • CHARLIE KIRK: Republicans must seize Gen Z moment or risk losing an entire generation

      July 26, 2025
    • Technology in Hospitality: Innovations Shaping Guest Experiences

      July 26, 2025

    Categories

    • Business (8,580)
    • Investing (2,151)
    • Politics (16,208)
    • Stocks (3,228)
    • About us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions

    Disclaimer: futureretirementsuccess.com, its managers, its employees, and assigns (collectively “The Company”) do not make any guarantee or warranty about what is advertised above. Information provided by this website is for research purposes only and should not be considered as personalized financial advice. The Company is not affiliated with, nor does it receive compensation from, any specific security. The Company is not registered or licensed by any governing body in any jurisdiction to give investing advice or provide investment recommendation. Any investments recommended here should be taken into consideration only after consulting with your investment advisor and after reviewing the prospectus or financial statements of the company.

    Copyright © 2025 futureretirementsuccess.com | All Rights Reserved