Taiwan Buys 400 Harpoon Missiles at Once for US Coastal Defense... "Need More"

Taiwan is reportedly purchasing 400 Harpoon missiles, a US anti-ship missile, all at once to defend its coastline against a Chinese invasion, drawing attention to the background of this move. Military experts predict that considering China's military pressure and capabilities, Taiwan will need more defensive weapons in the future, and the volume of arms imports from the US is expected to increase significantly.

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

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On the 17th (local time), Bloomberg News, citing sources, reported that Taiwan is planning to purchase 400 ground-launched Harpoon missiles from the US Boeing Company. These missiles were approved for export by the US Congress in 2020, and the sales process is expected to be completed soon. Previously, the US State Department approved the Department of Defense's plan to export advanced weapons to Taiwan three times between October and November 2020, which provoked strong opposition from China.

The US Department of Defense announced on the 7th that Boeing had signed an order contract for 400 Harpoon Block II missiles worth approximately $1.17 billion (about 2.54 trillion KRW), with production expected to be completed by March 2029, but did not specify the buyer.

Martin Meiners, a spokesperson for the US Department of Defense, avoided directly answering whether the Harpoon missiles would be provided to Taiwan but stated, "We will continue to work with the defense industry to provide equipment for Taiwan's defense in a timely manner."

The missile export issue is also believed to have been discussed during the meeting between US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen, who visited the US on the 5th. At that time, Speaker McCarthy mentioned, "US arms sales to Taiwan must be made in a timely manner."

Recently, House members including Michael McCaul, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, have also urged the swift implementation of arms export contracts to Taiwan totaling $19 billion (25.08 trillion KRW). The weapons scheduled for sale to Taiwan include F-16 Block 70 fighter jets, MK-48 torpedoes, and Paladin self-propelled howitzers.

Experts analyze that more defensive weapons are still needed to counter China's forces aiming to blockade the Taiwan Strait. Mark Cancian, senior adviser for the International Security Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), told Bloomberg News, "Harpoon missiles proved very effective against Chinese invading forces in previous war games. However, 400 units are not enough, and Taiwan needs more weapons."

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