Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Taiwan test-fires missile capable of attacking rival China
Asia World News ^ | Tue, 06 Mar 2007 | DPA

Posted on 03/06/2007 5:05:19 AM PST by IrishMike

Taipei - Taiwan has test-fired missiles capable of hitting major economic centres of rival China, local news media reported Tuesday, amid a new tension across the Taiwan Strait. Military-funded Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology test-fired the local-made Hsiung Feng 2E, which has a range of up to 1,000 kilometres, last month, Taipei-based United Daily News reported.

Quoting an unnamed institute source, the paper said the missile is able to hit Hong Kong, Shenzhen and Shanghai - the economic centres of China in the south and central parts of the mainland.

It said President Chen Shui-bian inspected the test-firing along with Defence Minister Lee Jye.

The defence ministry, however, declined to comment on the report. The institute also refused to confirm whether it had test-fired the missile or not.

But parliamentarians of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) said it explained why Chen was bold enough to say that Taiwan must declare independence.

They said the fact that Taiwan is capable of producing missiles that can threaten China has given Chen a strong boost.

Taiwan and China split at the end of a civil war in 1949, but Beijing still regards the island an integral part of the mainland. It has repeatedly warned that if Taiwan ever declares independence officially, it will send forces to attack the island.

............ The comments prompted Beijing to lash out at Chen. Washington, an informal ally of Taiwan and arms supplier for the island, also demanded that Chen keep his previous promises to refrain from further escalating cross-strait tensions.

David Wang, spokesman of Taiwan's foreign ministry, Tuesday said he had no idea about the test-fire issue, but stressed Taiwan must have adequate defence capability to safeguard itself in the face of rapid military buildup of China.

(Excerpt) Read more at earthtimes.org ...


TOPICS: Breaking News; Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: china; economy; military; taiwan
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 101-119 next last

1 posted on 03/06/2007 5:05:23 AM PST by IrishMike
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: IrishMike

I wonder how long it would take Taiwan to go nuclear. Two years, tops?


2 posted on 03/06/2007 5:06:56 AM PST by Lonesome in Massachussets (When I search out the massed wheeling circles of the stars, my feet no longer touch the earth)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: IrishMike

Good for Taiwan, building up like this should show China they're not gonna be pushed around.


3 posted on 03/06/2007 5:08:34 AM PST by oakcon
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Lonesome in Massachussets
I wonder how long it would take Taiwan to go nuclear. Two years, tops?

About 45 minutes.

L

4 posted on 03/06/2007 5:13:24 AM PST by Lurker (Calling islam a religion is like calling a car a submarine.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: TigerLikesRooster

FYI


5 posted on 03/06/2007 5:13:40 AM PST by Lurker (Calling islam a religion is like calling a car a submarine.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Lonesome in Massachussets

Is that with or without our assistance?


6 posted on 03/06/2007 5:14:13 AM PST by LIConFem
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: IrishMike

Feisty of them to put the PRC a little more on the defensive.


7 posted on 03/06/2007 5:15:41 AM PST by Jedi Master Pikachu ( What is your take on Acts 15:20 (abstaining from blood) about eating meat? Could you freepmail?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: oakcon

Peace through strength.


8 posted on 03/06/2007 5:16:59 AM PST by Moonman62 (The issue of whether cheap labor makes America great should have been settled by the Civil War.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: IrishMike

Good now give them some nuclear warheads to mount on them to make the chicoms think twice.


9 posted on 03/06/2007 5:17:05 AM PST by MARKUSPRIME
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: IrishMike
The United States should sell them at least a few missiles capable of hitting either Beijing or all of mainland China.

The United States is already responsible for their not developing nuclear weapons.

10 posted on 03/06/2007 5:17:14 AM PST by Jedi Master Pikachu ( What is your take on Acts 15:20 (abstaining from blood) about eating meat? Could you freepmail?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: IrishMike
"Washington, an informal ally of Taiwan and arms supplier for the island, also demanded that Chen keep his previous promises to refrain from further escalating cross-strait tensions."

If Taiwan wants independence, or at least non-Communist rule, it has to make its move soon. The PRC is getting stronger and stronger by the day. They are building a blue water navy. Furthermore, if it is not waning, the United States' global power is stagnating, and this country cannot be relied upon to enter a war with the PRC over Taiwan. Such a Sino-American war would be even less probable in the next few decades.

11 posted on 03/06/2007 5:21:54 AM PST by Jedi Master Pikachu ( What is your take on Acts 15:20 (abstaining from blood) about eating meat? Could you freepmail?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Lonesome in Massachussets
I wonder how long it would take Taiwan to go nuclear. Two years, tops?

There were very persistant romours around Kadena Airbase in the early 1980s that Tiawan was now nuclear. I think the only thing they didn't already have was a delivery system.

12 posted on 03/06/2007 5:22:48 AM PST by MrEdd (Always look on the bright side of life.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Lonesome in Massachussets; Lurker
The estimated time to make a nuclear weapon for Japan and South Korea is a month. Guessing the it would be about the same for Taiwan. However, Taiwan would have to get access to uranium ore, and they might not have any nuclear reactors on their soil.
13 posted on 03/06/2007 5:24:27 AM PST by Jedi Master Pikachu ( What is your take on Acts 15:20 (abstaining from blood) about eating meat? Could you freepmail?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Jedi Master Pikachu

Taiwan has three nuclear reactors, according to Wikipedia.


14 posted on 03/06/2007 5:26:56 AM PST by Jedi Master Pikachu ( What is your take on Acts 15:20 (abstaining from blood) about eating meat? Could you freepmail?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: Jedi Master Pikachu
I have a Taiwanese friend who told me the US leased reactors to Taiwan back in the 70's or 80's. They, like Iran today, were to be use for the production of energy. The CIA got wind to a couple of researchers had stepped over the line and started trying enrichment. The CIA and the State Dept. had those reactors and the enrichment program halted.
15 posted on 03/06/2007 5:39:03 AM PST by wolfcreek (Semi-Conservatism Won't Cut It)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: wolfcreek
Appreciated.

Leftist even back then, heh?

16 posted on 03/06/2007 5:41:58 AM PST by Jedi Master Pikachu ( What is your take on Acts 15:20 (abstaining from blood) about eating meat? Could you freepmail?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: Lonesome in Massachussets
They may be already.....
17 posted on 03/06/2007 5:42:59 AM PST by b4its2late (Liberalism is a hollow log and a mental disorder.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Lurker
I wonder how long it would take Taiwan to go nuclear. Two years, tops?

About 45 minutes.

About 44 minutes of that time is for the paperwork.

18 posted on 03/06/2007 5:43:17 AM PST by C210N (Bush SPIED, Terrorists DIED!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Lonesome in Massachussets

Bet they are already.


19 posted on 03/06/2007 5:44:41 AM PST by Eric in the Ozarks (BTUs are my Beat.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: C210N
About 44 minutes of that time is for the paperwork.

LOL !!! Isn't that the truth !!! :-)

20 posted on 03/06/2007 5:47:39 AM PST by TheCipher
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 101-119 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson