Taiwan rejects Japan-made Patriots as US stockpiles dwindle amid Iran war

Concern is growing that the rapid depletion of US Patriot air defense missile stockpiles during the Iran war could disrupt deliveries to Taiwan. While the United States has approved Patriot missile production in Japan to boost output, Taiwan's military has drawn a line against accepting Japanese-made missiles.

A Taiwanese military official said Monday, citing Taiwan media reports, that the island's armed forces had purchased American-made Patriot missiles. "The US side has never indicated they would be Japanese-made, and Taiwan would not agree to that either," the official said.

Washington has approved Patriot missile manufacturing in Japan and Germany to expand production. Japan resells domestically produced Patriot missiles to the US military but is restricted from supplying them to third countries.

The core concern is that the Iran war, which began Feb. 28, has rapidly drawn down US interceptor missile inventories.

According to The New York Times, more than 1,500 PAC-3 missiles have been fired in the Iran war, reducing the remaining US stockpile to fewer than 1,700 — meaning the number expended in combat is roughly equal to what is left.

That has raised fears over whether Taiwan will receive the 102 PAC-3 missiles it was scheduled to take delivery of from the United States this year.

A Taiwan Ministry of National Defense official told the legislature in March that the 102 PAC-3 missiles slated for delivery this year would arrive on schedule. More recently, however, concern has emerged over the delivery timeline, with some warning that "the situation is very serious."

The Patriot system plays a central role in Taiwan's air defense strategy. As a low-altitude missile defense system, it is considered — alongside the Tien Kung-3, dubbed Taiwan's version of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system — a cornerstone of the so-called "porcupine strategy" aimed at fortifying the entire island against attack.

As Chinese military pressure has intensified, Taiwan has moved to bolster its air defense capabilities. The island's air defense missile density is believed to rank second in the world, behind only Israel, which operates the Iron Dome low-altitude defense system.

Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense plans to spend about 20 billion Taiwan dollars ($620 million) by 2027 to purchase an additional 300 PAC-3 missiles. If the plan proceeds as scheduled, Taiwan's total PAC-3 inventory would grow to 650 missiles.

Taiwan is also expanding the personnel operating its Patriot units. The current force comprises three battalions of roughly 2,000 troops, covering air defense in the northern metropolitan area and the central and southern regions. A fourth battalion, to be established soon, will be tasked with strengthening air defenses in eastern Taiwan.

Taiwan's air defense missile command will hold a ceremony on Sept. 30 to mark the 30th anniversary of its Patriot units. The units were formally established on Oct. 1, 1996, shortly after the Third Taiwan Strait Missile Crisis.