The US has delivered the first batch of 38 Abrams tanks of the M1A2T modification to Taiwan, Agence France-Presse reported, citing the Taiwanese Ministry of Defense.
Initially, the delivery of combat vehicles was planned for mid-2024, but was postponed to a later date. Taipei will receive another 42 American tanks in 2025 and the last batch of 28 combat vehicles in 2026.
The sale of 108 Abrams M1A2T tanks to Taiwan for 2.2 billion USD was approved by the US State Department in 2019. The M1A2T is a modification of the M1A2 main battle tank, version SEPv2 (System Enhancement Package version 2), modernized in accordance with the requirements of Taiwan. Currently, Taiwan's tank fleet consists of 1,000 combat vehicles, mostly outdated types.
Taiwan has been governed by its own administration since 1949, when the remnants of the Kuomintang forces led by Chiang Kai-shek (1887-1975) fled there after being defeated in the Chinese Civil War. Beijing considers Taiwan to be one of the provinces of the PRC.
The United States broke off diplomatic relations with Taiwan in 1979 and established them with the PRC. Recognizing the policy of “one China“, Washington at the same time continues to maintain contacts with the Taipei administration. The United States is the main supplier of weapons to Taiwan. According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, the total amount of US military supplies to the island in the past few years has exceeded 7 billion USD.