The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced on 26 October the approval of a USD2.37 billion sale to Taiwan of up to 100 Boeing Harpoon Coastal Defense Systems (HCDSs) and up to 400 RGM-84L-4 Harpoon Block II medium-range, surface-launched, anti-ship missiles along with related equipment and support. 

According to Janes, the subsonic RGM-84L Harpoon Block II has a maximum range of 67 n miles (124.1km). 

The announcement comes amid increasing tensions between Beijing and Taipei over the status of Taiwan. The Chinese government sees the island as a breakaway province and has vowed to reunite it with the mainland.

In fact, a few hours before the DSCA notification the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) in Beijing had announced that it would impose sanctions on US firms involved in the sale of weapons to Taiwan following the US State Department approval on 21 October of USD1.8 billion worth of military equipment.

Among other things, the US State Department had approved the potential sale of 11 Lockheed Martin M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) launchers, 64 Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMSs) M57 unitary missiles, 135 Boeing AGM-84H Standoff Land Attack Missile-Expanded Response (SLAM-ER) missiles, and six Collins Aerospace MS-110 multispectral airborne reconnaissance pods, along with related equipment, training, support, and services.

Taiwan’s acquisition of these Harpoon systems and missiles is expected to significantly boost the island’s capabilities to counter or deter maritime aggressions, coastal blockades, and/or amphibious landings.

Taiwan’s request to buy these weapons does not come as a surprise, although the number of systems approved for sale by the US State Department is substantial and likely to further anger Beijing. A Taiwanese defence official had already told Janes on 22 May that the Republic of China Navy (RoCN) was planning to request the acquisition of RGM-84 Harpoon Block IIs for deployment from coastal defence systems along with 10 MH-60R Seahawk multirole naval helicopters. The potential sale of the latter, however, has yet to be approved.

The developments come as China continues to rapidly modernise and expand the capabilities of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) – particularly its navy and marine corps – and conduct a number of large-scale, multi-service exercises that Chinese state-owned media claim are aimed at demonstrating the mainland’s “strong capability and firm will against Taiwan secessionists”.

Against this background the US-made defense equipment requested by Taipei – and now approved by the US State Department – can be seen as part of Taiwan’s strategy to develop and apply new concepts and capabilities for asymmetric warfare to counter the growing capabilities of the PLA. 

The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced on 26 October the approval of a USD2.37 billion sale to Taiwan of up to 100 Boeing Harpoon Coastal Defense Systems (HCDSs) and up to 400 RGM-84L-4 Harpoon Block II medium-range, surface-launched, anti-ship missiles along with related equipment and support. 

According to Janes, the subsonic RGM-84L Harpoon Block II has a maximum range of 67 n miles (124.1km). 

The announcement comes amid increasing tensions between Beijing and Taipei over the status of Taiwan. The Chinese government sees the island as a breakaway province and has vowed to reunite it with the mainland.

In fact, a few hours before the DSCA notification the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) in Beijing had announced that it would impose sanctions on US firms involved in the sale of weapons to Taiwan following the US State Department approval on 21 October of USD1.8 billion worth of military equipment.

Among other things, the US State Department had approved the potential sale of 11 Lockheed Martin M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) launchers, 64 Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMSs) M57 unitary missiles, 135 Boeing AGM-84H Standoff Land Attack Missile-Expanded Response (SLAM-ER) missiles, and six Collins Aerospace MS-110 multispectral airborne reconnaissance pods, along with related equipment, training, support, and services.

Taiwan’s acquisition of these Harpoon systems and missiles is expected to significantly boost the island’s capabilities to counter or deter maritime aggressions, coastal blockades, and/or amphibious landings.

Taiwan’s request to buy these weapons does not come as a surprise, although the number of systems approved for sale by the US State Department is substantial and likely to further anger Beijing. A Taiwanese defence official had already told Janes on 22 May that the Republic of China Navy (RoCN) was planning to request the acquisition of RGM-84 Harpoon Block IIs for deployment from coastal defence systems along with 10 MH-60R Seahawk multirole naval helicopters. The potential sale of the latter, however, has yet to be approved.

The developments come as China continues to rapidly modernise and expand the capabilities of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) – particularly its navy and marine corps – and conduct a number of large-scale, multi-service exercises that Chinese state-owned media claim are aimed at demonstrating the mainland’s “strong capability and firm will against Taiwan secessionists”.

Against this background the US-made defense equipment requested by Taipei – and now approved by the US State Department – can be seen as part of Taiwan’s strategy to develop and apply new concepts and capabilities for asymmetric warfare to counter the growing capabilities of the PLA. 

The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced on 26 October the approval of a USD2.37 billion sale to Taiwan of up to 100 Boeing Harpoon Coastal Defense Systems (HCDSs) and up to 400 RGM-84L-4 Harpoon Block II medium-range, surface-launched, anti-ship missiles along with related equipment and support. 

According to Janes, the subsonic RGM-84L Harpoon Block II has a maximum range of 67 n miles (124.1km). 

The announcement comes amid increasing tensions between Beijing and Taipei over the status of Taiwan. The Chinese government sees the island as a breakaway province and has vowed to reunite it with the mainland.

In fact, a few hours before the DSCA notification the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) in Beijing had announced that it would impose sanctions on US firms involved in the sale of weapons to Taiwan following the US State Department approval on 21 October of USD1.8 billion worth of military equipment.

Among other things, the US State Department had approved the potential sale of 11 Lockheed Martin M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) launchers, 64 Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMSs) M57 unitary missiles, 135 Boeing AGM-84H Standoff Land Attack Missile-Expanded Response (SLAM-ER) missiles, and six Collins Aerospace MS-110 multispectral airborne reconnaissance pods, along with related equipment, training, support, and services.

Taiwan’s acquisition of these Harpoon systems and missiles is expected to significantly boost the island’s capabilities to counter or deter maritime aggressions, coastal blockades, and/or amphibious landings.

Taiwan’s request to buy these weapons does not come as a surprise, although the number of systems approved for sale by the US State Department is substantial and likely to further anger Beijing. A Taiwanese defence official had already told Janes on 22 May that the Republic of China Navy (RoCN) was planning to request the acquisition of RGM-84 Harpoon Block IIs for deployment from coastal defence systems along with 10 MH-60R Seahawk multirole naval helicopters. The potential sale of the latter, however, has yet to be approved.

The developments come as China continues to rapidly modernise and expand the capabilities of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) – particularly its navy and marine corps – and conduct a number of large-scale, multi-service exercises that Chinese state-owned media claim are aimed at demonstrating the mainland’s “strong capability and firm will against Taiwan secessionists”.

Against this background the US-made defense equipment requested by Taipei – and now approved by the US State Department – can be seen as part of Taiwan’s strategy to develop and apply new concepts and capabilities for asymmetric warfare to counter the growing capabilities of the PLA. 

The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced on 26 October the approval of a USD2.37 billion sale to Taiwan of up to 100 Boeing Harpoon Coastal Defense Systems (HCDSs) and up to 400 RGM-84L-4 Harpoon Block II medium-range, surface-launched, anti-ship missiles along with related equipment and support. 

According to Janes, the subsonic RGM-84L Harpoon Block II has a maximum range of 67 n miles (124.1km). 

The announcement comes amid increasing tensions between Beijing and Taipei over the status of Taiwan. The Chinese government sees the island as a breakaway province and has vowed to reunite it with the mainland.

In fact, a few hours before the DSCA notification the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) in Beijing had announced that it would impose sanctions on US firms involved in the sale of weapons to Taiwan following the US State Department approval on 21 October of USD1.8 billion worth of military equipment.

Among other things, the US State Department had approved the potential sale of 11 Lockheed Martin M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) launchers, 64 Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMSs) M57 unitary missiles, 135 Boeing AGM-84H Standoff Land Attack Missile-Expanded Response (SLAM-ER) missiles, and six Collins Aerospace MS-110 multispectral airborne reconnaissance pods, along with related equipment, training, support, and services.

Taiwan’s acquisition of these Harpoon systems and missiles is expected to significantly boost the island’s capabilities to counter or deter maritime aggressions, coastal blockades, and/or amphibious landings.

Taiwan’s request to buy these weapons does not come as a surprise, although the number of systems approved for sale by the US State Department is substantial and likely to further anger Beijing. A Taiwanese defence official had already told Janes on 22 May that the Republic of China Navy (RoCN) was planning to request the acquisition of RGM-84 Harpoon Block IIs for deployment from coastal defence systems along with 10 MH-60R Seahawk multirole naval helicopters. The potential sale of the latter, however, has yet to be approved.

The developments come as China continues to rapidly modernise and expand the capabilities of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) – particularly its navy and marine corps – and conduct a number of large-scale, multi-service exercises that Chinese state-owned media claim are aimed at demonstrating the mainland’s “strong capability and firm will against Taiwan secessionists”.

Against this background the US-made defense equipment requested by Taipei – and now approved by the US State Department – can be seen as part of Taiwan’s strategy to develop and apply new concepts and capabilities for asymmetric warfare to counter the growing capabilities of the PLA. 

The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced on 26 October the approval of a USD2.37 billion sale to Taiwan of up to 100 Boeing Harpoon Coastal Defense Systems (HCDSs) and up to 400 RGM-84L-4 Harpoon Block II medium-range, surface-launched, anti-ship missiles along with related equipment and support. 

According to Janes, the subsonic RGM-84L Harpoon Block II has a maximum range of 67 n miles (124.1km). 

The announcement comes amid increasing tensions between Beijing and Taipei over the status of Taiwan. The Chinese government sees the island as a breakaway province and has vowed to reunite it with the mainland.

In fact, a few hours before the DSCA notification the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) in Beijing had announced that it would impose sanctions on US firms involved in the sale of weapons to Taiwan following the US State Department approval on 21 October of USD1.8 billion worth of military equipment.

Among other things, the US State Department had approved the potential sale of 11 Lockheed Martin M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) launchers, 64 Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMSs) M57 unitary missiles, 135 Boeing AGM-84H Standoff Land Attack Missile-Expanded Response (SLAM-ER) missiles, and six Collins Aerospace MS-110 multispectral airborne reconnaissance pods, along with related equipment, training, support, and services.

Taiwan’s acquisition of these Harpoon systems and missiles is expected to significantly boost the island’s capabilities to counter or deter maritime aggressions, coastal blockades, and/or amphibious landings.

Taiwan’s request to buy these weapons does not come as a surprise, although the number of systems approved for sale by the US State Department is substantial and likely to further anger Beijing. A Taiwanese defence official had already told Janes on 22 May that the Republic of China Navy (RoCN) was planning to request the acquisition of RGM-84 Harpoon Block IIs for deployment from coastal defence systems along with 10 MH-60R Seahawk multirole naval helicopters. The potential sale of the latter, however, has yet to be approved.

The developments come as China continues to rapidly modernise and expand the capabilities of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) – particularly its navy and marine corps – and conduct a number of large-scale, multi-service exercises that Chinese state-owned media claim are aimed at demonstrating the mainland’s “strong capability and firm will against Taiwan secessionists”.

Against this background the US-made defense equipment requested by Taipei – and now approved by the US State Department – can be seen as part of Taiwan’s strategy to develop and apply new concepts and capabilities for asymmetric warfare to counter the growing capabilities of the PLA. 

The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced on 26 October the approval of a USD2.37 billion sale to Taiwan of up to 100 Boeing Harpoon Coastal Defense Systems (HCDSs) and up to 400 RGM-84L-4 Harpoon Block II medium-range, surface-launched, anti-ship missiles along with related equipment and support. 

According to Janes, the subsonic RGM-84L Harpoon Block II has a maximum range of 67 n miles (124.1km). 

The announcement comes amid increasing tensions between Beijing and Taipei over the status of Taiwan. The Chinese government sees the island as a breakaway province and has vowed to reunite it with the mainland.

In fact, a few hours before the DSCA notification the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) in Beijing had announced that it would impose sanctions on US firms involved in the sale of weapons to Taiwan following the US State Department approval on 21 October of USD1.8 billion worth of military equipment.

Among other things, the US State Department had approved the potential sale of 11 Lockheed Martin M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) launchers, 64 Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMSs) M57 unitary missiles, 135 Boeing AGM-84H Standoff Land Attack Missile-Expanded Response (SLAM-ER) missiles, and six Collins Aerospace MS-110 multispectral airborne reconnaissance pods, along with related equipment, training, support, and services.

Taiwan’s acquisition of these Harpoon systems and missiles is expected to significantly boost the island’s capabilities to counter or deter maritime aggressions, coastal blockades, and/or amphibious landings.

Taiwan’s request to buy these weapons does not come as a surprise, although the number of systems approved for sale by the US State Department is substantial and likely to further anger Beijing. A Taiwanese defence official had already told Janes on 22 May that the Republic of China Navy (RoCN) was planning to request the acquisition of RGM-84 Harpoon Block IIs for deployment from coastal defence systems along with 10 MH-60R Seahawk multirole naval helicopters. The potential sale of the latter, however, has yet to be approved.

The developments come as China continues to rapidly modernise and expand the capabilities of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) – particularly its navy and marine corps – and conduct a number of large-scale, multi-service exercises that Chinese state-owned media claim are aimed at demonstrating the mainland’s “strong capability and firm will against Taiwan secessionists”.

Against this background the US-made defense equipment requested by Taipei – and now approved by the US State Department – can be seen as part of Taiwan’s strategy to develop and apply new concepts and capabilities for asymmetric warfare to counter the growing capabilities of the PLA.