Taiwan Shows Off Missile Defense Strength, Highlights China's Threat

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Taiwanese soldiers stand guard in front of Patriot missiles at a base in Wanli, Taipei county, 22 October 2004. Taiwanese military for the first time on Friday demonstrated their missile shield, but said they would badly need more advanced weaponry to counter rival China's perceived threat. AFP Photo/Sam Yeh.

Wanli, Taiwan (AFP) Oct 22, 2004
Taiwan showed off its missile defense system to the media for the first time Friday, but said it badly needed more advanced weaponry to counter a military threat from rival China.

The defense ministry opened one of its three Patriot missile bases to reporters in a rare move apparently aimed at trying to win parliament's support for a controversial 18 billion US dollar special defense budget.

"The missiles can be used to shoot down incoming enemy aircraft, ballistic and cruise missiles," General Ku Feng-tai, head of Taiwan's missile command, told reporters.

The military said it was confident in the ability of the three PAC-2 anti-missile batteries but it needed more advanced versions to match the increasing number of ballistic missile that China had targeted at the island.

"The foremost threat from the Chinese communists is their some 600 ballistic missiles," said Admiral Chen Pang-chih, head of the political warfare bureau.

The ministry estimated the number of China's ballistic missiles aiming at Taiwan would amount to 800 by the end of 2006.

Taiwan plans to acquire six PAC-3 batteries to protect the central and southern parts of the island, and to upgrade the existing PAC-2s.

Each PAC-3 will be able to track 18 targets simultaneously and cover a defense area of 400 square kilometers (160 square miles), Ku said.

The PAC-2s in place are designed to track nine targets simultaneously and cover an area of 225 square kilometers.

They have successfully destroyed mock targets in two live-fire drills since they were put into service in 1996 to protect the northern greater Taipei area.

Friday's display came as Taiwan debates whether to spend 18 billion US dollars on an arms package made up of eight conventional submarines, 12 P-3C submarine-hunting aircraft and the six PAC-3 missile systems.

The cabinet on June 2 approved the special budget to buy weaponry from the United States. It needs final approval by parliament.

Critics of the deal warn the hefty spending could further provoke China. Others say the government would be forced to incur more debt or cut social welfare and education budgets.

US President George W. Bush approved the arms package in April 2001 as part of Washington's most comprehensive arms package to the island since 1992.

Tensions between Taiwan and China have been growing following the re-election of President Chen Shui-bian, from the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party.

China claims Taiwan as its territory and has threatened to invade the island should it take further steps towards formal independence.

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Taiwan Research Satellite Could Be Used For Military Purposes: Report

Taipei, Taiwan (AFP) Oct 05, 2004
Taiwanese intelligence and security officials took a close interest in the development of what rival China sees as a spy satellite, a report said Tuesday. Taiwan says the satellite, which was launched in May in the United States, is intended to monitor the island's land mass and surrounding waters, and study atmospheric conditions.