Military Challenges For Taiwan

Taiwan, if the were to declare independence, could seriously find itself in trouble if they were to mount some type of defense against an invasion by China. Taiwan’s military expenditures as a percentage of GDP were at 2.85% where as China’s military expenditures as a percentage of GDP were at 4.3%. China’s military expenditures were higher then that of the United States which were at 4.06%. The Beijing government has consistently had the policy that they have no intentions of expanding their empire through military might but increased expenditures in the military area are cause for skeptics. The view of observers in Washington, Taipei, and Beijing is that the United States-Taiwan security relationship is closer today then it has been at anytime since 1979. Taiwan’s status as the largest recipient of United States Foreign military sales and training in the Pacific Commands area of responsibility underscores this point. Emerging differences between Washington and Taipei over weapons procurement and threat perceptions may complicate efforts further to enhance United States-Taiwan security cooperation.