As reported by the Liberty Times on January 20, 2024, Taiwan is in the process of establishing a Sea Control Missile Command for its Navy, set to be launched later this year. This development comes in response to the increased production and phased delivery of Hsiung Feng II, Hsiung Feng III, and extended-range Hsiung Feng III anti-ship missiles.
The command’s location will be in western Taiwan and will play a crucial role in managing and coordinating Taiwan’s missile assets. This decision is prompted by Taiwan’s recent procurement of 100 Harpoon Coastal Defense System Launcher Transporter Units and 400 Harpoon missiles from the United States. These acquisitions have emphasized the need for a dedicated command structure to oversee these missile systems effectively.
Originally, the command headquarters was intended to serve both as an administrative center and a storage site for the anti-ship missiles. However, the proposed location of the Naval Anti-Ship Missile Command Headquarters in Yunlin’s Huwei Township sparked debates during the Taiwanese election period. Some local residents raised concerns about its potential vulnerability as a wartime target due to the presence of anti-ship missile storage facilities.
As a result, officials have chosen to simplify the mission of the headquarters. Vice Premier of the Executive Yuan, Cheng Wen-tsang, disclosed during an event in late November 2023 that, following extensive consultations with top government officials and national security agencies, the command headquarters and dormitories would no longer house missile storage or Harpoon missiles. This shift aims to promote development in the Huwei Special Zone while addressing local concerns.