The U.S. announced the sale of a volcano anti-tank mine-laying system to Taiwan even though not a single mine has been planted on Taiwan since World War II. Opposition lawmakers say the sale would turn Taiwan into a "land mine island," while the Army says it is very unlikely any Taiwanese soldiers would be injured or killed by the system.
Opposition lawmakers say Taiwan has no use for the volcano anti-tank munition-laying system the U.S. recently announced it was selling to Taiwan at a price tag of US$180 million since no mines have been planted on Taiwan since World War II. The U.S. says the system's emplacement area, operation time and protective armor capabilities can delay a PRC invasion of Taiwan. Whether Taiwan will turn into a "land mine island" in the future is now a hot-button political issue.
Wang Ting-yu, Legislator (DPP): “The reasons they are giving for why they oppose this do not reflect reality in any way. The only thing that will happen from their opposition is that China's PLA will have an easier time invading Taiwan.”
Most but not all of the DPP's lawmakers support the sale. Su Tzu-yun of the Institute for National Defense and Security Research says the Volcano is a new weapon in asymmetric warfare as it doesn't have to be operated manually, is visible to the naked eye and has a self-destruct function. However, another expert says the PLA is air- and sea-focused and the government needs to seriously consider whether the Volcano is something Taiwan really needs right now.
Lin Ying-yu, Assistant Prof., Graduate Institute of International Affairs and Strategic Studies, TKU: “When the PLA attacks us, they will seal off the sea and the air routes first and then fire missiles at us. This will lead to the use of land mines and that sort of weaponry later on in the war.”
In a press release, the Army said the Volcano being purchased is brand new and a model that is currently in use by the U.S. and there is very little chance of Taiwanese soldiers being injured or killed by it. In addition, the military will carefully plan where and when to use it during wartime and will also put up warning signs to keep soldiers and citizens from accidentally removing mines.
美國日前宣布軍售台灣總額1.8億美元的「火山陸上機動布雷系統」，具備布設面積廣、作業時間短及裝甲防護能力等特性，可拖延共軍登陸犯台，不過由於二戰之後台灣本島從未布雷，引發各界高度關注。在野黨立委發聲反對，平面媒體報導擔憂台灣成為地雷島，甚至演變成政治議題攻防。
民進黨立委王定宇指出：「他們所提出來反對的理由，根本不是事實。而唯一他們這樣反對達成的效果，就是幫助中國解放軍排除台灣擁有阻止他們快速登陸灘頭的戰力。」
民進黨立委大多支持此項軍售，國防院學者蘇紫雲更表示火山布雷系統是不對稱作戰的新利器，火山布雷系統不需要人工作業，而且為地表布設，肉眼可辨識，並具定時自毀功能。國際上美英法都在使用，不過也有學者提出，目前共軍戰術都以海空為主，布雷系統是否為當前最需要可以討論。
淡江戰略所助理教授林穎佑表示：「就解放軍來看，他目前對我們的攻擊一定還是先做海空的封鎖，以及飛彈對我們的攻擊，這一些都會導致會用到地雷這個武器，應該是戰爭中後段才會用到。」
陸軍以新聞稿澄清，採購的火山布雷系統為全新美軍現役裝備，屬反裝甲地雷，非人員殺傷性地雷，且為金屬製品。在作戰時採計畫性布設，以雷區標示方式，可避免我軍及民眾誤觸也便於戰後清除，希望民眾不要誤解。
