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By Ryan Chan
China News Reporter
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Taiwan is reportedly considering placing additional orders for combat-proven Patriot air defense systems from the United States as its rival, China, advances its missile capabilities in preparation for a potential invasion of the self-ruled island.
When asked for comment, the Taiwanese Air Force told Newsweek on Monday that it is closely monitoring the progress of its Patriot Advanced Capability-2 (PAC-2) upgrade and PAC-3 systems already on order, whose delivery remains on track.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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Why It Matters
The Patriot air defense system is designed to defend against tactical ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and aircraft by launching missile interceptors. Its combat capabilities have been demonstrated recently by American forces in the Middle East during the June U.S.-Iran conflict and by Ukraine in its ongoing war against Russia.
Taiwan has long been threatened by the Chinese Communist Party—which claims sovereignty over the island despite never having governed it. The U.S. has been a major source of weapons for Taiwan, as it is legally required to provide the island with "defensive arms," even though the two sides do not maintain official diplomatic relations.
Citing satellite imagery, The New York Times reported last week that Chinese missile units stationed on the country's east coast facing Taiwan have expanded their bases and deployed advanced missiles. In 2022, China launched ballistic missiles into waters around Taiwan during a large-scale exercise.
What To Know
The Taipei Times reported on Sunday that Taiwan is planning to acquire an additional four PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) systems and up to 500 missile interceptors, after the U.S. recommended increasing its stock of air defense missiles.
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Taiwan signed an agreement with the U.S. in 2021 to acquire PAC-3 MSE systems, with two batches scheduled for delivery in 2025 and 2026. According to The Liberty Times, the air defense systems are now expected to arrive before the end of the year.
The Taiwanese military also possesses PAC-2 missile interceptors as part of its air defenses, although one exploded a few seconds after launch during an exercise in August.
According to a document provided by U.S. defense contractor Lockheed Martin, the PAC-3 MSE is capable of intercepting aerial threats at greater distances than previous versions, thanks to a rocket motor that enhances its performance in in terms of altitude and range.
Facing the growing need for missile defense, Lockheed Martin was recently awarded a $9.8 billion contract by the U.S. Army to produce 1,970 PAC-3 MSE missile interceptors, marking the largest contract in the company's Missiles and Fire Control history.
In addition to Taiwan, Japan—a U.S. treaty ally—has acquired PAC-3 MSE missile interceptors. China is also capable of striking Japan and U.S. bases in the country with missiles if the U.S. military intervenes to aid Taiwan during a Chinese invasion.
Meanwhile, the Chinese military's media wing released footage on Monday on social media, which highlighted the work of the Rocket Force's missile-launching vehicle drivers, claiming that "all missile operators are waiting for the moment of launch."
What People Are Saying
The Pentagon commented in its Chinese military power report 2024: "The [People's Republic of China] could use precision missile and air strikes against key government and military targets, including air bases, radar sites, missiles, space assets, and communications facilities to degrade Taiwan's defenses, neutralize its leadership, or undermine the public's resolve to resist."
Lockheed Martin said in a press release in September: "PAC-3 MSE defends against incoming threats through direct body-to-body contact delivering exponentially more kinetic energy on the target than can be achieved with blast fragmentation mechanisms. The interceptor is combat proven against ballistic missile, cruise missile, hypersonic and airborne threats. 17 partner nations, including the U.S., have chosen PAC-3 to defend against incoming threats."
What Happens Next
It remains to be seen whether the U.S. will approve additional sales of air defense systems to Taiwan, as President Donald Trump claims that Chinese President Xi Jinping promised not to invade Taiwan while Trump was in office.
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