Taiwan starts work on coastal anti-ship missile bases for US-made Harpoon weapons

Taiwan is building at least five bases to house US-made Harpoon missiles as it seeks to bolster coastal defense amid escalating cross-strait tensions, Report informs referring to South China Morning Post.

The bases, four in southern Taiwan and one in the eastern county of Taitung, are being set up in anticipation of the navy’s procurement of the advanced US missiles from 2026.

Four contracts valued at a combined NT$4.75 billion (US$148.7 million) have been awarded to build the southern facilities, following a bidding process launched in June.

According to information released last week by the government procurement website, the contractors will be building one base each in Tainan and Kaohsiung, and two in Pingtung, all counties facing the mainland across the Taiwan Strait.

Work on the Tainan base began last Wednesday, and construction for the other three should start soon, the website said.

All four bases are expected to be ready in three years.

The defense ministry is also expected to announce the main contractor for the eastern Taitung base this week.

The navy’s original plan included a sixth Harpoon missile base, in the southwestern county of Yunlin. However, this met with strong opposition from residents concerned about noise and the risk of becoming a target in the event of an attack by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA).

The Taiwanese military was still in talks with residents and hoped to bring them around, the defense ministry said in April.

The bases are expected to strengthen defense capabilities, including military responses, in case of a blockade of southern and southwestern Taiwan by PLA Navy ships.