|
Air force
>
Combat aircraft
|
360
Ranked 5th.
|
3,318
Ranked 1st.
9 times more
than
Taiwan
|
|
|
Army
>
Main battle tanks
|
1,926
Ranked 4th.
|
8,725
Ranked 1st.
5 times more
than
Taiwan
|
|
|
Budget
|
19.2 US$ BN
Ranked 6th.
|
682 US$ BN
Ranked 1st.
36 times more
than
Taiwan
|
|
|
Expenditures
>
Percent of GDP
|
2.2%
Ranked 44th.
|
4.06%
Ranked 22nd.
85% more than
Taiwan
|
|
|
Global Peace Index
|
1.54
Ranked 137th.
|
2.13
Ranked 4th.
38% more than
Taiwan
|
|
|
Manpower fit for military service
>
Males age 16-49
|
None
|
None
|
|
|
Military branches
|
Army, Navy (includes Marine Corps), Air Force, Coast Guard Administration, Armed Forces Reserve Command, Combined Service Forces Command, Armed Forces Police Command
|
United States Armed Forces: US Army, US Navy (includes Marine Corps), US Air Force, US Coast Guard
|
|
|
Military expenditures
|
2.2% of GDP
Ranked 25th.
|
4.6% of GDP
Ranked 1st.
2 times more
than
Taiwan
|
|
|
Military service age and obligation
|
18-35 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; service obligation is 2 years; women may enlist; women in Air Force service are restricted to noncombat roles; reserve obligation to age 30 (Army); the Ministry of Defense is in the process of implementing a voluntary enlistment system over the period 2010-2015, although nonvolunteers will still be required to perform alternative service or go through 4 months of military training
|
18 years of age (17 years of age with parental consent) for male and female voluntary service; no conscription; maximum enlistment age 42 (Army), 27 (Air Force), 34 (Navy), 28 (Marines); service obligation 8 years, including 2-5 years active duty (Army), 2 years active (Navy), 4 years active (Air Force, Marines); DoD is eliminating prohibitions restricting women from assignments in units smaller than brigades or near combat units
|
|
|
Navy
>
Aircraft carriers
|
0.0
Ranked 42nd.
|
10
Ranked 1st.
|
|
|
Navy
>
Frigates
|
21
Ranked 3rd.
|
26
Ranked 3rd.
24% more than
Taiwan
|
|
|
Navy
>
Submarines
|
4
Ranked 13th.
Twice as much
as
United States
|
2
Ranked 8th.
|
|
|
Service age and obligation
|
19-35 years of age for male compulsory military service; service obligation 14 months (reducing to 1 year in 2009) year; women may enlist; women in Air Force service are restricted to noncombat roles; reserve obligation to age 30 (Army); the Ministry of Defense has announced plans to implement an incremental voluntary enlistment system beginning 2010, with 10% fewer conscripts each year thereafter, although nonvolunteers will still be required to perform alternative service or go through 3-4 months of military training
|
18 years of age (17 years of age with parental consent) for male and female voluntary service; maximum enlistment age 42 (Army), 27 (Air Force), 34 (Navy), 28 (Marines); service obligation 8 years, including 2-5 years active duty (Army), 2 years active (Navy), 4 years active (Air Force, Marines)
|
|
|
WMD
>
Missile
|
Taiwan's short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) program is based at the Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology, which has developed a range of missiles including the Hsiung Feng series of anti-ship missiles, the Tien Chien series of air-to-air missiles, and the Tien Kung series of surface-to-air missiles. These systems have provided Taiwanese scientists with experience and a technological base in areas such as composite materials and guidance and fire control systems, which are essential for development of longer range surface-to-surface missiles. Taiwan has two SRBM programs. The liquid-fueled, single-stage Ching Feng has a range of 130 km with a 270 kg payload. Initially deployed in the early 1980s, it is unclear how many Ching Feng missiles were built and whether they are still operational. The Tien Chi, first test-fired in 1997, is a solid-fueled, two-stage missile with a 300 km range that can reach China's southeastern coast. The Tien Chi incorporates global positioning system technology and has an estimated payload of 100-500 kg. One report claims that as many as 50 Tien Chi missiles have been deployed on Tungyin Island and at an unidentified second location. Development of the Tien Ma, a ballistic missile with a range of 950 km, was reportedly discontinued in the early 1980s due to U.S. pressure.
|
The United States has the capability to produce highly sophisticated liquid- and solid-fueled missiles of all ranges. It currently deploys 500 Minuteman and 10 MX/Peacekeeper nuclear-tipped intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) at three bases in Montana, North Dakota, and Wyoming. The number of warheads on Minuteman missiles was scheduled to be reduced from three to one by 2007 under the defunct START II agreement, but this plan may be revised to assign between 700 to 800 warheads to the 500 Minutemen missiles. Deactivation of the MX/Peacekeeper force began in October 2002 and will conclude in 2005, at the cost of $600 million. In 2004, the Defense Department retired 17 additional MX/Peacekeeper missiles as part of this plan, and the final 10 MX missiles will be withdrawn from alert status by October 1, 2005. These remaining missiles will not be destroyed as prescribed under START II, but will be retained as stipulated in the 2001 NPR for potential use as space launch vehicles, target vehicles, or for redeployment. The Minuteman missile force is also undergoing a $6.0 billion modernization program to improve the weapon's accuracy, reliability, and to extend its service life beyond 2020. A new, longer-range ICBM, to be ready in 2018, is being considered by the Pentagon. As of early 2005, the U.S. Navy had 14 operational Ohio-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines (SSBN), having reduced its level by one in 2004 to meet NPR specifications. The four oldest subs in the original class of 18 have been converted to carry non-nuclear cruise missiles. The 14 operational SSBNs carry a total of 336 Trident-1 and Trident-II submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBM), each carrying between six and eight warheads, for an estimated total of 2,016. All SSBNs will be modified to carry the Trident II missiles, and the navy has extended the service life of the Trident-II from 30 to 49 years. The Pentagon is planning to introduce a new SSBN in 2029 when the oldest of the current subs will be retired. Previous predictions indicated that the U.S. Navy would station the 14 SSBNs evenly among the Atlantic and Pacific fleets; however, recent planning shifts have called for an SSBN fleet of 9 to be stationed in the Pacific with only 5 submarines in the Atlantic. Also, in 2004, the Navy initiated the Enhanced Effectiveness (E2) Reentry Body Program that would allow missiles to be targeted within 10-meter accuracy, expanding the list of potential targets to be attacked by W76 warheads. Finally, the Navy plans to resume SLBM flight tests in 2005 and plans to develop a submarine-launched intermediate-range ballistic missile (SLIRBM) that would carry nuclear and conventional payloads. The U.S. bomber force consists of 94 B-52 bombers stationed at Barksdale AFB in Louisiana and Minot AFB in North Dakota, and 21 B-2 bombers stationed at Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri. The B-52 can deliver air-launched cruise missiles (ALCM), advanced cruise missiles (ACM), or gravity bombs. The B-2 carries only gravity bombs. It is estimated that 450 ALCMs are deployed as well as around 400 operational ACMs, which have a longer range, greater accuracy, and more difficult to intercept than an ALCM. The B-2s are scheduled to undergo upgrades allowing them to make mission and target changes in route. The U.S. Air Force intends to expedite the process of finding a replacement for its current bomber force, considering long- and mid-range options, unmanned aircraft, and new bombers. The United States is a member of the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), whose goal is to control the transfer of nuclear-capable missiles and unmanned delivery systems capable of carrying all types of WMD.
|
|
|
WMD
>
Nuclear
|
Taiwan's first nuclear reactor was built at National Tsinghua University in 1956, and its first nuclear power plant was opened in 1965. Taiwan now possesses six nuclear units housed in three nuclear power plants with a total capacity of 5,144 megawatts. Although plagued by domestic opposition and delays, a fourth nuclear power plant is scheduled to begin operation in 2006. Taiwan's nuclear weapons program was established under the direction of the Institute of Nuclear Energy Research (INER) and the Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology following the People's Republic of China's first nuclear test in October 1964. The "Hsin Chu" program involved procurement and operation of a heavy water reactor, a heavy water production plant, a reprocessing research laboratory, and a plutonium separation plant. U.S. pressure caused Taiwan to end its nuclear weapons program in 1988 after International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspections discovered missing fuel rods and the former deputy director of INER defected to the United States with detailed information about Taiwan's program. Taiwan probably possesses the technological expertise necessary to develop nuclear weapons, but U.S. pressure and the possibility of a pre-emptive strike by China have prevented a resumption of the nuclear weapons program.
|
As one of the five recognized nuclear weapons states under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), the United States maintains a sizeable arsenal of nuclear weapons, including approximately 10,350 intact warheads, 5300 of which are considered active or operational. Approximately 4,530 strategic warheads are operational, 1,150 of which are deployed on land-based missile systems (Minuteman and Peacekeeper ICBMs), 1,050 on bombers (B-52 and B-2), and 2,016 on submarines (Ohio-class subs). 780 are tactical nuclear weapons (TNWs), and consist of an estimated 200 Tomahawk land attack cruise missiles (TLAM/N), and 580 B61 bombs. The remaining warheads are stockpiled. The only remaining U.S. weapons in forward deployment, aside from those on SSBNs, are approximately 480 of the 580 operational B61 bombs, located at eight bases in six European NATO countries. According to the May 2002 Treaty of Moscow (the Strategic Offensive Reductions Treaty, or SORT) between the United States and the Russian Federation, both countries are required to reduce their strategic nuclear arsenals to 1,700-2,200 operationally deployed warheads by 2012. In June 2004, the US Department of Energy announced that "almost half" of these warheads would be retired for dismantlement by 2012. This statement suggests that the total stockpile of 10,350 warheards would be reduced to about 6,000 by this date. Over 5,000 warheads have been removed from deployment by the United States and placed in a "responsive reserve force" (active but not deployed or in overhaul). These "spares," or warheads on inactive status, have not been dismantled, in keeping with past practice under previous U.S. arms control agreements. The Bush administration has rejected U.S. ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, but calls for a continued moratorium on nuclear testing. The NPR calls for a reduction in the amount of time needed (now 18 months as mandated by Congress, but this could be reduced to as little as 12 months) to test a nuclear weapon, suggesting that the United States might decide to resume nuclear testing, although Bush administration officials deny that this is currently planned and explain the shortening of test-site readiness time as a logical extension of the U.S. decision to maintain a testing option. The NPR also calls for discussion on possible development of new, low-yield, bunker-busting TNW. A law barring research and development that could lead to the production by the United States of a new low-yield "bunker buster" nuclear weapon (warheads with a yield of 5 kilotons or less) was passed by Congress in 1994. In its FY2004 budget request, however, the Department of Defense requested a repeal of the 1994 law, suggesting that the U.S. government intends to proceed with development of new nuclear weapons. The repeal was approved by the Senate on 20 May 2003. The Bush administration has requested an additional $8.5 million in its 2006 budget in order to continue research of nuclear "bunker busters" under the Robust Nuclear Earth Penetrator (RNEP) Project. Congress rejected RNEP funding and resources for the Advanced Concepts Initiative, one that would develop mini-nukes or exotic designs, completely for FY2005. Weapons laboratories under the Department of Energy began research on the RNEP Project in 2003, and the study is expected to be complete in 2006. The United States used nuclear weapons on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945, making it the only country that has ever used nuclear weapons during a conflict. It ratified the NPT in March 1970.
|
|
|
Navy
>
Destroyers
|
4
Ranked 2nd.
|
62
Ranked 1st.
16 times more
than
Taiwan
|
|
|
Branches
|
Army, Navy (includes Marine Corps), Air Force, Coast Guard Administration, Armed Forces Reserve Command, Combined Service Forces Command, Armed Forces Police Command
|
US Army, US Navy (includes Marine Corps), US Air Force, US Coast Guard; note - Coast Guard administered in peacetime by the Department of Homeland Security, but in wartime reports to the Department of the Navy
|
|
|
Weapons of mass destruction
>
Chemical weapons possession
|
Possible
|
Known
|
|
|
Manpower reaching military age annually
>
Males
|
166,190
Ranked 60th.
|
2.16 million
Ranked 5th.
13 times more
than
Taiwan
|
|
|
Weapon holdings
|
5.34 million
Ranked 18th.
|
38.54 million
Ranked 1st.
7 times more
than
Taiwan
|
|
|
Manpower
>
Reaching military age annually
>
Males
|
164,883
Ranked 59th.
|
2.19 million
Ranked 3rd.
13 times more
than
Taiwan
|
|
|
Manpower available for military service
>
Males age 16-49
|
None
|
None
|
|
|
Weapons of mass destruction
>
Chemical Weapons Convention ratification
|
n/a
|
April 25, 1997
|
|
|
WMD
>
Biological
|
Taiwan has been accused of making efforts to acquire a biological weapons (BW) capability. A report from the Canadian Security and Intelligence Service claimed that Taiwan has developed three dozen types of bacteria, apparently for weaponization purposes. This report, of questionable reliability, was vigorously denied by the Ministry of National Defense (MND). Taiwan signed the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BWC) in 1972, but its role in this treaty is not officially recognized. Taiwan has not been permitted to join the Australia Group.
|
The U.S. offensive biological warfare (BW) program was launched in 1943 and terminated in 1969, by executive order. During this period, the U.S. weaponized a variety of pathogens and toxins for use against humans and plants. The anti-human agents it developed for weapons purposes were Bacillus anthracis (anthrax), Francisella tularensis (tularemia), Coxiella burnetii (Q fever), the Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus, and staphylococcal enterotoxin B. The anti-plant agents were the fungi that cause wheat rust and rice blast. In addition, U.S. military scientists conducted research on pathogens that cause smallpox, glanders, and plague, as well as several toxins, such as botulinum toxin, saxitoxin, and ricin. The entire U.S. BW stockpile was destroyed in 1969 and 1970; since that time, it has not had an offensive BW program. The U.S. ratified the Biological and Toxins Weapons Convention (BWC) in March 1975 and had an important role in the process of developing confidence-building measures (CBMs) during several BWC review conferences. However, in 2001, the Bush administration rejected an effort by other signatories to conclude a protocol that would provide verification measures. Since then, the remaining parties to the BWC have conducted semiannual meetings to discuss, among other things, national measures for the implementation of biosecurity regulations and penal legislation, leading up to the Sixth Review Conference in 2006.[2] In addition, the United States has conducted an active biodefense program for many years in accordance with BWC provisions that permit the use of agents of types and in quantities appropriate for prophylactic, protective, or other peaceful purposes. These activities are reported each year to Congress and in an annual information exchange on biodefense activities under the BWC. A 4 September 2001 New York Times article identified previously undisclosed U.S. government biodefense projects involving a model of a germ bomb, a factory to make biological agents, and the development of more potent anthrax. The United States denied allegations that this research was anything other than defensive in nature and asserted that it did not violate any BWC provisions or CBMs. On 28 April 2004, President Bush outlined the administration's perspective on biological weapons by issuing National Security Presidential Directive (NSPD-33) called "Biodefense for the 21st Century", an initiative to strengthen the country's biodefense capabilities through programs in threat awareness, prevention and protection, surveillance and detection, and response and recovery. The Bush administration also faces criticism that financial resources have been redirected from non-biodefense research in order to fund additional biodefense research.
|
|
|
Expenditures
|
2.2% of GDP
Ranked 40th.
|
4.06% of GDP
Ranked 10th.
85% more than
Taiwan
|
|
|
Military expenditures
>
Percent of GDP
|
2.2% of GDP
Ranked 3rd.
|
4.06% of GDP
Ranked 10th.
85% more than
Taiwan
|
|
|
Terrorism
>
2002 Bali bombing deaths
|
1
Ranked 20th.
|
7
Ranked 4th.
7 times more
than
Taiwan
|
|
|
WMD
>
Overview
|
Taiwan does not possess nuclear weapons, but began a covert nuclear weapons program in 1964 that ended in 1988 as a result of U.S. pressure. Taiwan signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) in 1968 and has implemented the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) "Program 93+2" safeguards. Despite persistent suspicions of offensive and defensive chemical and biological weapons (CBW) programs, there is no conclusive evidence that Taiwan has developed or deployed chemical or biological weapons. Taiwan is currently developing the Tien Chi, a short-range ballistic missile system that can reach the coast of China.
|
The United States possesses a substantial nuclear weapons arsenal and associated delivery systems. The 2001 Nuclear Posture Review suggests that the United States may seek to develop, and possibly test, new types of nuclear weapons in the future. The United States destroyed its biological weapons by 1970 and is in the process of destroying its stockpile of chemical weapons. Some critics allege that elements of U.S. government biodefense research are in violation of the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BWC).
|
|
|
WMD
>
Chemical
|
In 1989, the U.S. Congress was informed that Taiwan could have acquired an offensive chemical weapons (CW) capability. While acknowledging production of small quantities of CW agents for defense research purposes, Taiwanese authorities have consistently denied any offensive CW capabilities. Still, rumors persist that Taiwan has stockpiled sarin in two locations: Tsishan (Kaohsiung) and in Kuanhsi, Hsinchu County. Chemical defense research and development is conducted at the Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology. Because of Taiwan's non-state status, it cannot join the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) nor the Australia Group.
|
The U.S. chemical warfare (CW) program began with the establishment of the Chemical Warfare Service in June 1918. During World War I, the United States manufactured, stockpiled, and used chemical weapons. Chemical weapons development and production continued during and after World War II, but the production of unitary chemical munitions was terminated in 1969. During the Reagan administration, the production of binary chemical weapons was restarted, but was discontinued in 1990. Since then, the United States no longer has an active CW program. The United States ratified the Geneva Protocol in 1975, with the reservation that the treaty not apply to defoliants and riot control agents such as were used in Vietnam and Laos during the Vietnam War. Currently, the United States has what is believed to be the world's second largest stockpile of chemical weapons, including bombs, rockets, and artillery shells that are loaded with lewisite, mustard, sarin, soman, VX, or binary nerve agents. Under terms of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), which the United States ratified in April 1997, the United States has committed to destroying all chemical stockpiles by April 2004. However in September 2003, the Pentagon announced that it would be unable to meet this deadline and would ask for an extension at the Fall 2003 CWC meeting. As of 28 December 2004, the Chemical Materials Agency of the U.S. Army announced that only 33.34% of the nation's stored chemical agent, including 70% of the remaining mustard agent stockpile, and 42% of the nation's chemical weapons munitions had been destroyed. Former chemical production facilities and recovered chemical warfare materials are also being destroyed under the U.S. Army Non-Stockpile Chemical Materiel Program (NSCMP). The NSCMP also destroyed 80% of the nation's original chemical weapons production facilities in 2003, 16 months ahead of schedule, and will meet the final deadline of 100% destruction by April 2007.
|
|
|
Manpower fit for military service
>
Females age 16-49
|
4951088
|
None
|
|
|
Employment in arms
>
Production
|
35,000
Ranked 19th.
|
2.32 million
Ranked 2nd.
66 times more
than
Taiwan
|
|
|
Manpower reaching military age annually
>
Males per thousand people
|
7.15
Ranked 156th.
4% more than
United States
|
6.89
Ranked 163th.
|
|
|
Manpower
>
Availability
>
Males
|
6.28 million
Ranked 47th.
|
72.72 million
Ranked 3rd.
12 times more
than
Taiwan
|
|
|
Manpower
>
Military age
|
19 years of age
|
18 years of age
|
|
|
Manpower reaching military service age annually
>
Males age 18-49
|
174,173
Ranked 49th.
|
2.14 million
Ranked 4th.
12 times more
than
Taiwan
|
|
|
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually
>
Males
|
166,190
Ranked 60th.
|
2.16 million
Ranked 5th.
13 times more
than
Taiwan
|
|
|
Manpower available for military service
>
Females age 16-49
|
None
|
None
|
|
|
Manpower
>
Availability
>
Females
|
6.1 million
Ranked 45th.
|
71.64 million
Ranked 3rd.
12 times more
than
Taiwan
|
|
|
Manpower
>
Fit for military service
>
Males
|
5.11 million
Ranked 46th.
|
59.41 million
Ranked 3rd.
12 times more
than
Taiwan
|
|
|
Manpower
>
Availability
>
Males age 15-49
|
6.58 million
Ranked 43th.
|
73.6 million
Ranked 3rd.
11 times more
than
Taiwan
|
|
|
Manpower reaching military age annually
>
Females
|
155,306
Ranked 62nd.
|
2.06 million
Ranked 5th.
13 times more
than
Taiwan
|
|
|
Manpower reaching military age annually
>
Females per thousand people
|
6.75
Ranked 157th.
1% more than
United States
|
6.65
Ranked 159th.
|
|
|
Manpower
>
Fit for military service
>
Females
|
5.04 million
Ranked 42nd.
|
59.19 million
Ranked 3rd.
12 times more
than
Taiwan
|
|
|
Conscription status
|
$383300
|
No(The United States abandoned the draft in 1973 under President Richard Nixon, ended the Selective Service registration requirement in 1975 under President Gerald Ford, and then re-instated the Selective Service registration requirement in 1980 under President Jimmy Carter. Today the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selective_Service_System">U.S. Selective Service System</a> remains as a contingency, should a military draft be re-introduced. For more information see the website.) Registration remains required.
|
|
|
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually
>
Male
|
166190
|
2161727
|
|
|
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually
>
Males per thousand people
|
7.13
Ranked 153th.
4% more than
United States
|
6.83
Ranked 165th.
|
|
|
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually
>
Females
|
155,306
Ranked 62nd.
|
2.06 million
Ranked 5th.
13 times more
than
Taiwan
|
|
|
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually
>
Female
|
155306
|
2055685
|
|
|
Manpower
>
Reaching military age annually
>
Males
>
Per capita
|
7.19 per 1,000 people
Ranked 166th.
|
7.2 per 1,000 people
Ranked 165th.
The same as
Taiwan
|
|
|
Manpower
>
Availability
>
Males age 15-49
>
Per capita
|
0.288 per capita
Ranked 25th.
15% more than
United States
|
0.251 per capita
Ranked 103th.
|
|
|
Manpower
>
Reaching military age annually
>
Females
>
Per capita
|
6.63 per 1,000 people
Ranked 174th.
|
6.84 per 1,000 people
Ranked 168th.
3% more than
Taiwan
|
|
|
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually
>
Females per thousand people
|
6.75
Ranked 156th.
1% more than
United States
|
6.65
Ranked 158th.
|
|
|
Manpower
>
Reaching military age annually
>
Females
|
152,085
Ranked 60th.
|
2.08 million
Ranked 4th.
14 times more
than
Taiwan
|
|
