Sunday, May 31, 2020

Taiwan Wants Anti-Ship Harpoon Missiles To Counter Chinese Naval Power

A Taiwanese Air Force F-16A/B Viper fighter jet carrying, among other weapons, two AGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missiles. Chiang Ying-ying/AP

Warzone/The Drive: Taiwan Wants Land-Based Harpoon Anti-Ship Missiles To Counter Growing Chinese Naval Power

The announcement comes as both of China's aircraft carriers may be preparing to work together in a first-of-its-kind exercise.

Taiwanese authorities say that they are looking to buy ground-launched Harpoon anti-ship missiles and mobile launchers to augment the island's coastal defenses. This announcement follows reports that China's People's Liberation Army Navy might be gearing up for a first-ever naval exercise featuring both of its aircraft carriers. Chinese naval forces have been steadily and significantly growing in recent years, in general, which has already prompted the Taiwanese military to seek a variety of new and improved anti-ship capabilities.

Taiwanese Deputy Defense Minister Chang Che Ping informed lawmakers on the island about the plans to acquire the land-based Harpoons during a committee meeting on May 28, 2020. Reports had first begun to emerge earlier this month that the Taiwanese military could be looking to buy these missiles.

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WNU Editor: This will certainly get China's attention.

9 comments:

RussInSoCal said...

Its becoming more clear that the only way to deter a Chinese invasion is to make a Chinese invasion so costly to the Chinese that the Chinese decide no to conduct a Chinese invasion.

Land based Harpoons are an excellent start.

Anonymous said...

I can't see Taiwan repelling a Chinese "invasion" imho. Infiltrators and the use of hybrid warfare alongside overwhelming theater control will ensure a successful takeover. An outer defence will hold off American conventional options until Taiwan is secured. Japan is the wildcard.

James said...

Yes,
But they must do it quickly or it becomes a disaster. I would think a week to take and consolidate.
With the US, Xi and company must bet the US will not engage in a nuke exchange.

James said...

I forgot to add. I also agree Japan is the wild card. At the least it gives the US an excellent reason to have major naval forces in the area.

Anonymous said...

I think Japan will be wary to engage offensively simply put. N.K has those nukes and S.K won't imho take offense action against China either. Pure speculation but what fun it is!

Dave Goldstein said...

Just depends on who the president is. China won't do anything with Trump in there, Biden would probably roll over.

Jac said...

Taking over Taiwan will not be that easy. Infiltrators could be efficient as long as they are not already checked. Also, Chinese's are trained, yes, but the last war they had is 41 years ago....

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