After Iran war, can US defend Taiwan from China? Missile stockpile crunch in focus
The US has consumed large quantities of advanced missiles and interceptors during its military campaign against Iran, raising concerns about its ability to defend Taiwan from China. Rebuilding depleted missile stockpiles could take up to six years, creating a temporary vulnerability in the Indo-Pacific.
The US military campaign against Iran has depleted its stockpiles of advanced missiles and interceptors, sparking concerns about its ability to respond to a future crisis involving China and Taiwan. The US has reportedly fired over 1,000 Tomahawk cruise missiles and between 1,500 and 2,000 air-defence interceptors since the conflict began on February 28. Rebuilding these stockpiles could take up to six years, depending on the system, industrial capacity, and congressional funding. US defence planners consider a possible China-Taiwan conflict one of the most demanding military scenarios America could face. China possesses a rapidly expanding military, including naval forces, missile systems, and over 600 nuclear warheads. The US intelligence community assessed in March that Beijing is unlikely to launch a war over Taiwan in 2027, but defence planning is based on capability as much as intent.
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