Taiwan accelerates missile production amid Chinese military pressure

Taiwan is accelerating the production of anti-ship missile capabilities to increase the potential cost of any Chinese military operation against the island. Central to this strategy is the domestically developed Hsiung Feng III (HF-3) supersonic missile, produced by the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology. The HF-3 is designed to fly at low altitudes during its terminal phase to evade radar detection. Taiwan reportedly aims to field over 1,000 HF-2 and HF-3 missiles, supplemented by 400 U.S.-made Harpoon missiles, to create a dense maritime strike network.

Simultaneously, China is advancing its own naval defense through military modernization, including the mass production of the YJ-20 sea-based hypersonic anti-ship missile. Analysts suggest Beijing's anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) capabilities are designed to challenge adversaries within the first island chain. As China continues large-scale naval and air exercises and simulated blockades, the Taiwan Strait has become an increasingly contested military environment involving advanced missile systems, drones, and electronic warfare.