Posted on 11/10/2004 11:26:33 PM PST by sukhoi-30mki
Taiwan Intends To Build Asia's Largest Missile Base: Report
by Xinhua News Agency
Beijing (XNA) Nov 09, 2004
'A large bunker project is being constructed at the Jiupeng missile test-launch ground by the Zhongshan Scientific Research Institute, under Taiwan's "Defense Ministry", and upon completion next year, will be used to deploy a "Patriot III" missile system purchased from the United States', Taiwan newspapers reported October 27. Jiupeng base, located in Pingdong Province, has been a key site for missile research and testing for the Taiwan army, known also as the "Space Center Houston" of Taiwan. It has drawn wide attention as it is reportedly being developed into Asia's biggest missile base.
Large bunker suspected to be a nuclear test ground
The arms research by the Zhongshan institute has drawn close attention from the United States due to frequent remarks made by the Taiwan authorities for developing offensive arms to be used against the mainland, and You His-kun ("president of the Administrative Yuan") advocating the so-called "balance of terror" approach.
US intelligence satellites recently noticed that a large reinforced concrete structure is being built at Jiupeng base, which belongs to the Zhongshan institute. From its unusual thickness, the Americans guessed it to be a bunker able to resist heavy bombs.
It is suspected the bunker was built for "special purpose", which may relate to Taiwan's alleged research into medium-range missiles, cruise missiles, and even nuclear weapons.
US experts say such a large, impact-proof structure may be used to store high-risk objects such as warheads, missiles, missile-propelling rockets and fuel, or for the final assembly of such dangerous objects, to avoid damaging other facilities, if there were any accidental explosions.
High-ranking military officials from Taiwan made no comment on the ongoing construction, and firmly rejected conjectures of a "nuclear test ground" or "missile base".
A "Space Center Houston" in Taiwan
Formally put into operation in 1975, Jiupeng Base is called one of the "three mysterious units" of the Taiwan military for its potential use for developing nuclear, biological or chemical weapons (the other two are the "Preventive Medicine Research Institute" and the Nuclear Energy Research Institute).
After 1990, the base was expanded to have R&D functions, and it will become a missile base upon the completion of the bunker.
After decades of development, Jiupeng Base is now responsible for all of the the islands high-precision observation, calculation, missile guidance, and research and development; it is the island's sole missile launch and long-range projecting system test site.
As Taiwan military have recently boasted, the whole base is a small "space center", describing its controlling center as no less than a "Space Center Houston" on a smaller scale.
Closely guarding against intelligence satellites of world countries
Due to its secret location and purposes, Jiupeng Base has been kept highly confidential until recent years. Even American and French scientific or intelligence services have been unable to conduct satellite monitoring of the base at all times.
According to a commander of the base, from 10:12a.m. to around 11:00a.m. every morning, many intelligence satellites gather directly above the base, but staff are ordered to "shut down" their computers, and any other devices, to prevent their activities being known.
Source: Xinhua News Agency
Excellent. This will also keep the cost/unit down. The PAC 3 appears to be very effective.
I'm a little nervous about this idea. China has it's sites on Taiwan already.
Well im not so sure of this.They would need over a thousand such weapons based through out the island & also sea based Aegis equipped destroyers to stand a chance of taking on the 600 odd missiles China has aimed at them & not to forget the PLAAF.
While the PRC can hit the ROC with missiles, they have no way of putting boots on the ground.
L
If they can take out Taiwan's airforce & C4I installations with missiles & airpower & also finish off Taiwan's naval fleet(which sorely lacks long range air defence) & subs-there is no need for China to put troops on the ground.A naval blockade of Taiwan is entirely feasible for China,unless of course the US comes into the conflict actively.
Taiwan can take care of itself.
Wrong! Taiwan is depending on it's big brother! Guess who THAT is? We've already told China not to mess with Taiwan. Pretty spooky stuff there. The cold war still lives, but now China has more money.
This won't solve everything, but is an important step in defending Taiwan. The one good thing about a Patriot is that you don't need an entire ship to support it, as is the case of an Aegis class vessel. Also a Patriot battery is more secure than a ship at sea. Something to consdier is that the missiles the ChiComs have carry less than a 1 ton payload. So a fully barrage only (I say that carefully) delivers a 600 ton hit. Taiwan will survive, I suspect the Patriots will be used to take down incoming.
How much payload can a tomahawk cruise missile carry? 1000 lbs I believe. We used hundreds of cruise missiles against Yugoslavia (among a lot of other stuff) and still much of their military was unscathed. If Taiwan has the right strategy and planning then I would think they should be able to negate quite a bit of the conventional missile threat from the PRC. The psychological terror is something more difficult to handle - probably good to be more active in the area of civil defense if they aren't already. This will prepare people.
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