Taiwan shows off new US tanks amid annual war games

(Reuters)

TAIPEI/HSINCHU, July 10 (Reuters) – Taiwan’s army on Thursday displayed the fire power of its first U.S.-sourced M1A2T Abrams tanks – a traditional weapon that analysts say will need to be increasingly protected against drones in any future battle given lessons from the Ukraine war.

Four Abrams tanks were shown manoeuvring across a mud-choked army training ground in Hsinchu county, firing at moving and static targets, on the second day of Taiwan’s annual military exercises that are designed to test the island’s resilience in a conflict with China.

Wearing a combat helmet, President Lai Ching-te observed the firing, saying later that with “every increase in the military’s combat power, the nation and its people gain an extra layer of security”.

“Whether in terms of strike capability or mobility, it was extremely powerful — undoubtedly the strongest tank on the battlefield,” Lai said.

Senior military officials in Lai’s government say they intend the comprehensive 10-day drills to show both China and the international community, including its key weapons supplier the U.S., that Taiwan is determined to defend itself against any China attack or invasion.

China views the democratically governed island as its own and has intensified military pressure around Taiwan over the last five years.

Lai’s comments also come ahead of a recall parliamentary election on July 26 that could see his ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) take back control of the legislature.

The tanks are among the first batch of 38 Abrams main battle tanks delivered in December, with the rest of the 108 ordered by Taiwan due to be delivered later this year and next year.

They marked Taiwan’s first new tanks for 24 years.

Analysts and regional military attaches say that while the Abrams remains a potent and highly adaptable weapon that would help Taiwan defend its cities and coasts in an invasion scenario, Taiwan will have to leverage its counter-drone technology to protect them.