Defence
Taiwan Building 1,000 Km ‘Carrier Killer’ Missile That Can Keep China’s Navy Away
A Chinese navy formation, including the aircraft carrier Liaoning (centre), during military drills in the South China Sea. (STR/AFP/Getty Images)
Taiwan has revealed plans to develop a new long-range anti-ship cruise missile designed to target Chinese aircraft carriers before they can launch strikes.
Taiwan's defence ministry said the missile will have a significantly greater range than Taiwan’s current Hsiung Feng series, which is limited to about 400 km. Analysts believe the new weapon could reach between 600 and 1,000 km, allowing Taiwan to strike from outside the range of Chinese carrier-based aircraft and directly threaten the mainland.
Defence analysts see the move as part of Taiwan’s push for “asymmetric” capabilities that can offset China’s numerical advantage. Beijing, which claims Taiwan as its territory, has stepped up military pressure in recent years and has not ruled out the use of force.
The United States, Taiwan’s main security partner, is legally bound to supply the island with defensive weapons.
