Taoyuan Air Base

The closure was a strategic decision driven by two main factors: military restructuring and national economic development. The ROCAF consolidated its forces, moving units to other strategic locations. The primary driver for the final closure was to free up the large and valuable parcel of land for the Taoyuan Aerotropolis project, a massive urban and industrial development plan centered around the adjacent Taoyuan International Airport (TPE/RCTP). The goal was to transform the area into a hub for logistics, aviation-related industries, commerce, and residential living, rather than maintain it as a military air base.

The site of the former Taoyuan Air Base is currently undergoing a complete transformation as the core development area for the Taoyuan Aerotropolis project. Most of the original military infrastructure, including barracks, hangars, and the runway, has been or is being demolished to make way for new construction. The land is being redeveloped into a modern, mixed-use urban zone that will include industrial parks (focusing on smart industries and aviation logistics), commercial districts, exhibition centers, and residential areas. The project is one of Taiwan's largest national infrastructure plans, aimed at boosting economic growth by leveraging the proximity to Taoyuan International Airport.

Taoyuan Air Base has immense historical significance, particularly during the Cold War.

1. **Japanese Origins:** It was originally built by the Empire of Japan during its colonial rule of Taiwan and was known as Taoyuan Airfield (桃園飛行場).

2. **ROCAF and USAF Base:** After World War II, it became a major base for the Republic of China Air Force (ROCAF). During the Cold War, it was a critical facility for US-Taiwan defense cooperation, hosting various United States Air Force (USAF) units, including elements of the Thirteenth Air Force.

3. **Home of the Black Cat Squadron:** The base is most famous for being the home of the clandestine 35th Reconnaissance Squadron, better known as the 'Black Cat Squadron' (黑貓中隊). From 1961 to 1974, this elite ROCAF unit, supported by the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), flew high-altitude Lockheed U-2 reconnaissance aircraft on top-secret missions over mainland China to gather intelligence. The base was the operational center for these high-risk missions, making it a focal point of Cold War espionage in Asia.

4. **Air Defense:** Throughout its operational life, it housed various ROCAF fighter and reconnaissance wings equipped with aircraft like the F-86 Sabre, F-100 Super Sabre, F-104 Starfighter, and F-5 Tiger II, playing a vital role in Taiwan's air defense.

There are zero prospects for reopening Taoyuan Air Base as an airport. The land has been permanently and irrevocably repurposed for the Taoyuan Aerotropolis urban development project. The runway and all aviation-specific infrastructure have been removed, and the entire area is being re-zoned and rebuilt for industrial, commercial, and residential use. The development's purpose is to support the functions of the existing Taoyuan International Airport, not to create a new, separate airfield on the old site.