Taiwan Will Buy US M1A2 Abrams Tanks to Counter Beijing’s Invasion Threat

U.S. Army's M1A2 tank from 2nd Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment of the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team of 2nd infantry division participate in a river crossing exercise in Yeoncheon-gun, South Korea, on May 30, 2013. Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images

Taiwan’s military is reportedly on track to purchase U.S. M1A2 Abrams tanks to replace its aging fleet of main battle tanks. The tanks are expected to serve as the frontline weapons for the armored units of the Taiwanese Army, which could face the much more numerous and heavily armored Chinese regime land forces in an invasion.

Taiwanese media reported on Monday that military sources have confirmed the plan to purchase American tanks, a decision that has been debated for over a decade among Taiwan’s military planners and defense experts.