Donald Trump’s possible F-35 deal with Taiwan not ‘worth risk’, experts say

MILITARY experts have warned about the huge dangers posed if the US engages with a small island country to seal an F-35 Joint Strike Fighter deal.

AMID the Trump administration taking an aggressive stance on China, two US senators are pushing for the president to sell F-35 stealth fighters to Taiwan.

In a letter to President Trump, senators John Cornyn and James Inhofe said China’s aggressive military posture in the Asia-Pacific region would be deterred by an F-35 Joint Strike Fighter deal.

“Taiwan has a legitimate requirement to field a modern fighter fleet to address a myriad of defence contingencies,” they wrote in a letter to Trump on Monday, reports Defense One.

“The survivability of the F-35B, and modern long-range sensors, could help Taiwan intercept Chinese missiles, promoting deterrence well into the next decade.

“The F-35B would not only provide a modern fifth-generation fighter but would also bolster their capabilities in next-generation warfare.”

However retired fighter pilot and analyst John “JV” Venable said supplying Taiwan’s military with F-35s could be an extremely risky play.

“You would be upping the ante significantly not just between the Taiwanese and Chinese, but between the United States and China,” he said. “I’m not sure that’s worth the risk for the United States.”

Modern long-range sensors= could help Taiwan intercept Chinese missiles

Mr Venable said if data from the steal fighters computer network was compromised, it would be a disaster for Taiwan.

“You tap into that and you’ve got access to a whole lot more information than logistics,” he said.

“There is word [on the] street that it would be very hard for the Taiwanese to hold the secrets — not because they would give them up willingly, but because of the infiltration of the Chinese into their system.”

Defence analysis Richard Aboulafia raised the question if Taiwan could afford the F-35s, which cost around $A160 million each to purchase.

“Do the Taiwanese have the wherewithal to buy these planes,” he said.

Given Taiwan only has 144 F-16s — with fewer than half battle ready — the senators suggest the US should at least give the country some of the F-16s the Obama administration refused to sell them.

“If Taiwan’s air defence fleet is allowed to degenerate in number and quality, [we are] concerned that it would be destabilising and would encourage Chinese aggression to ensue,” they wrote.

“Additionally, [we are] concerned that Taiwan’s military weakness and the inability to mount a credible air force would place an undue burden on forward-deployed U.S. forces in North East Asia.”

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