Taiwan Expands Anti-Ship Missile Arsenal to Strengthen Defense Against China

Taiwan plans to significantly expand its stockpile of anti-ship missiles to more than 1,800 units by early 2029 as part of its broader defense strategy aimed at countering potential military pressure from China, according to Reuters reporting by David Lague and Yimou Lee.

Taiwan military missile launcher system during a defense exercise. (Photo: Ministry of National Defense (中華民國國防部))

The expansion reflects Taiwan’s shift toward an asymmetric defense strategy, which emphasizes large numbers of relatively low-cost but highly effective weapons designed to deter or disrupt a potential invasion.

The strategy includes missile systems deployed from land, sea, and air platforms, as well as drone systems designed to enhance battlefield resilience.

Officials have cited lessons from recent global conflicts in shaping Taiwan’s approach, particularly the importance of distributed and mobile strike capabilities. Taiwan’s missile arsenal includes U.S.-supplied Harpoon systems and domestically developed Hsiung Feng missiles.