Recent reports have revealed troubling issues with US military shipments to Taiwan, which included mouldy body armour and expired ammunition. These deliveries, made between November 2023 and March 2024 under the US Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA), contained 120 water-damaged pallets that held over 3,000 body armour plates and 500 tactical vests. Alarmingly, 2.7 million rounds of ammunition shipped were manufactured in 1983 and had already expired. Additionally, six M240B machine guns were found to be improperly packed [021d523d].
The situation has prompted Taiwan's defense ministry to flag these concerns, leading the US Office of Inspector General (OIG) to launch an investigation into the matter. The Pentagon has acknowledged mismanagement in the shipment process and is working to improve the PDA procedures to prevent such issues in the future. Taiwanese authorities are currently addressing the situation with their US counterparts [021d523d].
This incident has sparked criticism from Taiwanese lawmakers, including Lin Szu-ming, who expressed concern that the US is offloading surplus stock rather than providing modern weaponry necessary for Taiwan's defense against increasing threats from the People's Liberation Army (PLA) [021d523d].
As tensions between Taiwan and China continue to rise, the adequacy and reliability of military support from the US have come under scrutiny. Taiwan's military is already facing challenges with declining active-duty troop numbers, which are projected to decrease to 160,800 by 2025, a 3% drop from 2023. This decline raises concerns about Taiwan's military readiness amid increasing PLA threats [c06fe116].
In light of these developments, Taiwan's defense budget for 2025 has been proposed at NT$647 billion, reflecting a 6% increase aimed at strengthening its military capabilities. However, the recent shipment issues highlight the critical need for Taiwan to receive effective and reliable military support from its allies [c06fe116].
The US military is also grappling with its own recruitment and readiness challenges, falling short of its goals in recent years. The Army missed its recruiting target by 54,000 soldiers in 2023, raising concerns about the military's ability to maintain national security and readiness for global conflicts [f6ab7753].
Experts have warned that both the US and Taiwan must address these issues urgently to ensure they are prepared for future conflicts, especially as warfare increasingly incorporates advanced technologies like artificial intelligence and drones [4c5276b5]. The ongoing situation underscores the importance of effective military cooperation and the need for both nations to adapt to the changing landscape of modern warfare [4c5276b5].