Taiwan’s darkest military secrets revealed by Google Maps

Some of Taiwan’s most sensitive military sites – including its facilities for the US-made Patriot missiles – have been accidentally revealed to the public through Google’s latest 3D-rendered maps.

Lawmakers have demanded contingency plans to prevent the secret locations being targeted by Beijing in the event of a cross-strait conflict, while the self-ruled island’s defence minister has appealed for calm.

Google’s new 3-D maps – an extension of its original satellite mapping of the world’s major cities – feature better imagery and three-dimensional terrain for four major cities in Taiwan: Taipei, New Taipei, Taoyuan, and Taichung, according to Google Earth.

But all structures – down to the types of launchers and models of the missiles – are clearly visible on the new maps, including the previously secret Patriot missile base in Ankeng, Taipei, as well as defence infrastructure at the National Security Bureau and the Military Intelligence Bureau.

The breach follows a period of intense pressure from Beijing, which considers Taiwan to be a wayward province that must be reunited by force if necessary.

In January Chinese President Xi Jinping urged Taiwan not to stall unification, suggesting it could be achieved through the same “one country, two systems” model applied in Hong Kong and Macau under the one-China principle.