AN ANALYSIS OF DRIVERS BEHIND AMERICAN ARMS ACQUISITIONS TO JAPAN AND TAIWAN
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Authors
Morin, John P., II
Subjects
Indo-Pacific
Japan
Taiwan
China
PRC
U.S.
arms sales
FMS
regional security
stability
Japan
Taiwan
China
PRC
U.S.
arms sales
FMS
regional security
stability
Advisors
Meyskens, Covell F.
Date of Issue
2023-03
Date
Publisher
Monterey, CA; Naval Postgraduate School
Language
Abstract
Arms acquisitions are an important instrument used to carry out a country’s national defense and foreign policy strategies. For nations with rich histories of arms acquisitions, investigating the motives that encourage purchasing arms offers a look into the state’s security perspectives. Within the Indo-Pacific, several countries that are closely aligned with the United States - namely Japan and Taiwan - have engaged in large volume arms sales with the U.S. in the 21st century. This thesis investigates the factors that have encouraged Japan and Taiwan to purchase American arms in an effort to determine the motives that sustain long-term arms commitments. It examines various domestic and international drivers that have both encouraged and challenged purchases of U.S. made defensive technologies. This thesis argues that both Japan and Taiwan are influenced to pursue arms acquisitions by their long-standing partnerships with the United States, as well as geopolitical security concerns especially the threat of the PRC. However, unique domestic considerations such as Japan’s antimilitarism ideology and Taiwan’s distinctive Cross-Strait relations have played significant roles in hampering arms acquisitions. When combined, these factors offer insights into the complexities of arms acquisitions and suggest that external factors have the greater influence on arms acquisitions versus internal factors.
Type
Thesis
Description
Series/Report No
Department
National Security Affairs (NSA)
Organization
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NPS Report Number
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Citation
Distribution Statement
Approved for public release. Distribution is unlimited.
Rights
This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.