Taiwan mulls buying used M1 tanks from the US

A M1 Abrams main battle tank fires its cannon

Taiwan has been trying to procure the Abrams battle tank since the early 2000s, but critics say that it is unsuited to the nation’s mountainous terrain 

As the US military pulls out of Iraq and Afghanistan, the Pentagon is reportedly seeking to sell some of the weapons used in those conflicts to its allies — and Taiwan is studying the possibility of acquiring M1 Abrams main battle tanks.

Ministry of National Defense spokesman Major General David Lo (羅紹和) told local media yesterday that efforts to acquire used battle tanks from the US were currently under evaluation. 

Taiwan will be joining a number of US allies who will try to grab what is available and it remains to be seen whether it will be able to make the cut. 

My article, published today in the Taipei Times, continues here.