Taiwan Commissioned First M1A2T Abrams Tank Battalion Amid Rising China Tensions
Taiwan has commissioned its first M1A2T Abrams tank battalion procured from the United States, its principal defense partner, as part of ongoing efforts to modernize its armed forces amid growing military pressure from China. The Ministry of National Defense (MND, R.O.C.) announced via its official X account that the battalion will be operated by the 3rd Combined Arms Battalion under the 584th Armored Brigade. However, the ministry did not specify the number of M1A2T tanks entering service.
The commissioning of the battalion equipped with M1A2T Abrams tanks, marking a significant milestone in the modernization and combat readiness of the Republic of China (ROC) Armed Forces, was celebrated with an official ceremony at Hukou Camp, Hsinchu. The event was presided over by President Lai Ching-te and attended by National Security Council Secretary-General Wu Chao-hsieh, Defense Minister Kuo Li-hsiung, Army Commander General Lü Kun-hsiu, 6th Corps Commander Major General Chen Wen-hsing, and Brigadier General Chou Shao, Commander of the 584th Brigade.
Speaking at the ceremony, President Lai stated that with the introduction of new equipment and technologies, the military must also adopt new training methods and doctrines to embody the spirit of asymmetric warfare, thereby strengthening combat capabilities and implementing the overall defense strategy of “resolute defense and multilayered deterrence.”
Lai also reiterated that the status quo across the Taiwan Strait must be maintained, affirming Taiwan’s firm opposition to “one country, two systems” and to any attempts to promote unification. He emphasized that the two sides of the Strait are not subordinate to each other, and that Taiwan’s future must be decided by its 23 million people.
Taiwan’s procurement of M1A2T Abrams tanks was formalized through a U.S. Foreign Military Sales (FMS) agreement approved in July 2019. The $2 billion contract covers 108 tanks, along with 122 M2 .50-caliber machine guns, 216 M240 machine guns, 14 M88A2 HERCULES armored recovery vehicles, 16 M1070A1 tank transporter trucks, and various types of training and high-explosive ammunition, including 572 M1002 TPMP-T1, 359 M831A1 HEAT, 621 M865 TPCSPS-T2, and 828 M830A1 HEAT rounds.
To date, Taiwan has received 80 M1A2T Abrams tanks in two separate batches under the agreement. The third and final batch, comprising 28 vehicles, is scheduled for delivery in 2026, completing the procurement program. These advanced tanks, a customized version of the M1A2 SEPv2 Abrams, will gradually replace Taiwan’s aging U.S.-made M60A3 and locally produced CM-11 Brave Tiger tanks.
The M1A2T acquisition represents just one component of Taiwan’s broader military modernization effort. Relying heavily on U.S. arms sales to bolster its defense posture against China, which has intensified its air and naval operations around the island in recent years, Taiwan has also procured a range of advanced systems through the FMS channel. These include the M142 HIMARS rocket system, MGM-140 ATACMS tactical missiles, F-16V Block 70/72 fighter jets, Harpoon anti-ship missile systems, Altius-600M loitering munitions, and FGM-148 Javelin anti-tank missiles.