Taiwan flags risk of Stinger missile delays, says pressing U.S.

This development will only serve to encourage China to act sooner rather than later.

From the article:

TAIPEI, May 3 (Reuters) - Taiwan's Defence Ministry on Tuesday said deliveries of shoulder-fired Stinger anti-aircraft missiles could be delayed, saying they were pressing the United States to deliver on schedule as the war in Ukraine pressures supplies.

This is the second time this week the ministry has warned of delayed deliveries of U.S. weapons.

There's more on this story here:

Taiwan considers alternatives after U.S. informs of howitzer delay

From the article:

TAIPEI, May 2 (Reuters) - Taiwan's Defence Ministry said on Monday it was considering alternative weapons options after the United States informed it that the delivery of an artillery system would be delayed due to a "crowded" production line.

Washington last year approved the potential sale of 40 155mm M109A6 Medium Self-Propelled Howitzer artillery systems to Taiwan in a deal valued at up to $750 million, which Taiwanese media said had been due to be delivered by 2023.

Taiwan's Defence Ministry said, however, that because of a "crowded" production line for the M109A6, the U.S. had told it this would not happen until 2026 at the earliest.

And yet more background here:
Shrinking U.S. Stinger missile supply faces re-stocking challenges

From the article:

WASHINGTON, April 26 (Reuters) - Shoulder-fired Stinger missiles are in hot demand in Ukraine where they have successfully stopped Russian assaults from the air, but U.S. supplies have shrunk and producing more of the anti-aircraft weapons faces significant hurdles.

All of this suggests a weakening in Taiwan's defense capabilities due almost entirely to what's happening in Ukraine. There have been multiple articles since the war in Ukraine started suggesting that Russia's poor performance coupled with the unified response from NATO countries would cause China to think twice before taking action on Taiwan. But the above stories give China a reason to strike while the iron is hot. Assuming the Ukraine war could go on for years, Taiwan's posture could weaken at the same time, giving further reason for China to move on Taiwan.