Why Not Sell the F-35 to Taiwan to Counter Chinese Amphibious Assault?

By Kris Osborn, President, Center for Military Modernization

If Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Australia all operate F-35s, why not Taiwan? The question is as simple as it is self-evident, yet it is one likely full of complexities and considered nuances given the ever-escalating China-Taiwan-US tensions. 

Should Taiwan be able to deploy land-launched F-35A variants in close coordination with US Navy amphib and carrier-launched F-35Bs and F-35Cs, a Chinese amphibious assault upon Taiwan would likely be extremely challenged to succeed. 

Such as scenario, something likely receiving more wargaming attention at the Pentagon in recent years, introduces unparalleled advantages to the US and Taiwan … should the US decide to sell the F-35 to Taiwan. 

It is likely safe to assume that the Pentagon might consider an F-35 sale to Taiwan and potentially too provocative to the Chinese Communist Party, however the merits of such a move seem difficult to question.

Congress has yet to approve the sale of the F-35 to Taiwan, yet several key US allies have quickly been adding the jet such as Poland, Germany, Finland and Switzerland.

The multi-national community of F-35 partners is growing so quickly that some are starting to regard the F-35 as the 5th-gen stealth fighter for the free world. When specifically considering the Pacific, additional F-35s and 5th-generation aircraft could be extremely impactful as a deterrent.

It would certainly make sense for Taiwan to operate F-35s along with Singapore, Japan, Australia, and South Korea, given that 5th-generation air superiority is arguably the largest advantage the U.S. and its allies would have over China.