Business Insider
Date: October 28, 2020
By: Ryan Pickrell
Harpoon anti-ship missile in flight
US Navy photo by Lt. Bryce Hadley
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Days after a proposed $1.8 billion arms sale to Taiwan, the US State Department notified Congress of a possible $2.4 billion sale of hundreds of Harpoon anti-ship missiles and launchers to the island, which faces rising pressure from mainland China.
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With one of the world's largest militaries, China could destroy Taiwan if it really wanted, but taking the well-defended island is a lot more complicated. Harpoon anti-ship missiles could frustrate an amphibious assault, a likely requirement for a successful invasion.
- Arms sales to Taiwan have angered Beijing, which argues that they are a challenge to its national interests and has threatened to retaliate.
If Taiwan gets its hands on the hundreds of anti-ship missiles the US has proposed selling to the island, it could frustrate a future Chinese invasion.
Less than a week after it authorized a $1.8 billion arms sale to Taiwan, the US Department of State notified Congress on Monday of another possible Foreign Military Sale to Taiwan for $2.4 billion that includes hundreds of Harpoon anti-ship missiles and launchers.
The big sale, if approved by Congress, would give Taiwan 100 Harpoon Coastal Defense Systems (HCDS) and 400 RGM-84L-4 Harpoon Block II Surface-Launched Missiles, very capable all-weather weapons that can search for and take out ships as far as half-way across the Taiwan Strait. [FULL STORY]