According to a report from Forbes magazine, Taiwan has quietly become one of the biggest supporters of the Ukrainian Air Force by donating retired Hawk air defense missile systems to Ukraine. Ukraine had previously used Hawk missile systems provided by Spain, which are said to be easier to train and operate than Taiwan’s retired Hawk systems.
At the end of 2022, Spain provided Ukraine with the third-generation Hawk missile system, but only 4 sets were delivered. In contrast, Taiwan’s donation to Ukraine reportedly includes as many as 15 sets of Hawk systems, each equipped with at least six triple missile launchers and related radar systems. Taiwan has never publicly voiced strong support for Ukraine in resisting Russia’s invasion war, yet it has become an important supporter of Ukraine.
Although the Hawk air defense system is not advanced, it is simple and reliable, can be easily deployed, and is capable of intercepting subsonic cruise missiles without any issues. It can also intercept unmanned aerial vehicles, helicopters, fighter jets, and other airborne targets.
Currently, the National Security Advisor, Secretary of State, and Secretary of Defense appointed by Trump are all hardliners towards China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea. This personnel arrangement is a blow to China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea, which may be more advantageous for Taiwan, while the situation for Ukraine remains uncertain. Although Trump and the future Secretary of State Rubio both say they want to end the war as soon as possible, they have not discussed the details of future Ukrainian policy, including how to end the war. Based on Trump’s strong criticism of the US military’s chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan, his desire for victory, and his likely reluctance to see Europe defeated by Russian invasion, he may push for Europe to provide financial support or sell weapons to Ukraine through loans.
The Biden administration still has over $9 billion in aid to Ukraine that has not been used, including $7.1 billion authorized by the President and $2.21 billion authorized by USAI. The President’s Defense Authorization (PDA) allows for direct allocation from the existing US Department of Defense inventory, which can be delivered relatively quickly, while the USAI authorization involves the US government ordering military assistance to Ukraine from defense contractors, which may take several years to deliver. Some people hope that the Biden administration will spend this money quickly before the transition of power, providing military assistance to Ukraine.
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