The Taiwan Strait is about 100 nautical miles across at it widest, and 70 nautical miles at its narrowest.
Harpoon missile full#
The upgraded missiles that Taiwan intends to purchase have improved guidance systems to improve its ability to hit land targets and targets close to shore in addition to its traditional anti-ship mission.Įnjoying this article? Click here to subscribe for full access. Get the Newsletterīy contrast the Harpoon missile, introduced in the late 1970s, travels at high subsonic speeds and has a range of only 67 nautical miles. Get briefed on the story of the week, and developing stories to watch across the Asia-Pacific. Taiwan produces its own highly capable, supersonic coastal defense missiles, the Hsiung Feng III, believed to have a range of over 200 nautical miles and be capable of travel at more than two times the speed of sound. Taiwan requested to purchase 100 truck-mounted coastal defense launchers and 400 of the U.S. The Taiwan Relations Act permits the United States to provide defensive weapons to Taiwan to enable it to defend itself against coercion and threats. State Department and sales to Taiwan are especially sensitive since the United States switched its recognition from the Republic of China to the People’s Republic of China on the mainland in 1979. State Department has given the greenlight for Taiwan to buy hundreds of truck-mounted anti-ship missiles that would improve its ability to fend off a potential invasion fleet coming across the Taiwan Strait from China.įoreign arms sales must be approved by the U.S.
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