Posted on 03/25/2021 6:16:24 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
TAIPEI (Reuters) - Taiwan has begun mass production of a long-range missile and is developing three other models, a senior official said on Thursday, in a rare admission of efforts to develop strike capacity amid growing Chinese pressure.
China, which claims democratic Taiwan as its own territory, has stepped up military activity near the island, as it tries to force the government in Taipei to accept Beijing's claims of sovereignty.
Taiwan's armed forces, dwarfed by China's, are in the midst of a modernisation programme to offer a more effective deterrent, including the ability to hit back at bases deep within China in the event of a conflict.
Taking lawmaker questions in parliament, Taiwan Defence Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng said developing a long-range attack capability was a priority.
"We hope it is long-range, accurate and mobile," he said, adding research on such weapons by the state-owned National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology had "never stopped".
Standing next to Chiu, the institute's deputy director Leng Chin-hsu said one long-range, land-based missile had already entered production, with three other long-range missiles in development.
Leng said it was "not convenient" for him to provide details on how far the missile could fly.
The institute, which is leading Taiwan's weapon development efforts, has in recent months carried out a series of missile tests off its southeastern coast.
Media in Taiwan have carried images of missiles launching and instructions have been given to aircraft to stay clear of the test area, but the tests have otherwise been shrouded in secrecy.
Taiwan's armed forces have traditionally concentrated on defending the island from a Chinese attack.
But President Tsai Ing-wen has stressed the importance of developing an "asymmetrical" deterrent, using mobile equipment that is hard to find and destroy, and capable of hitting targets far from Taiwan's coast.
(Excerpt) Read more at ph.news.yahoo.com ...
"We hope it is long-range, accurate, and mobile," he said, adding research on such weapons by the state-owned National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology had "never stopped."
Standing next to Chiu, the institute's deputy director Leng Chin-hsu said one long-range, land-based missile had already entered production, with three other long-range missiles in development.
Leng said it was "not convenient" for him to provide details on how far the missile could fly.
The region is already on edge given what are now weekly and almost daily incursions by Chinese aerial patrols. In the past months this has sometimes included a half-dozen Chinese H-6K strategic bombers or more making aggressive maneuvers in breach of Taiwan's defense zones.
The United States as the main supplier of arms to the island has also been condemned by Beijing for violating the 'One China' status quo, particularly because of the series of major weapons sales approvals during the last six months of the Trump administration.
china can say GOODBYE to the Three Gorges Dam.
They need all they can get, Biden probably already greenlighted the Invasion from the mainland
Probly only cost the ChiComs a couple billion in a swiss account
The Suez Canal blockade was a good shot across the bow to China.
I would guess an accurate small nuke would do.
Bump
Go nuclear. Go for broke. Test it on Beijing. I would go for 10-20 MT.
How so?
Does Taiwan have the iron dome?
That would make one big mess...
>>Does Taiwan have the iron dome?<<
I’ve not read anywhere over the last few years that they do.
Even so, it wouldn’t make any difference.
The communist have placed thousands of surface to surface missiles along the coastline opposite Taiwan. Taiwan has also been heavily infiltrated by the communist.
When China begins to make it’s move, they will give Taiwan an ultimatum. Either peacefully accept your fate or it will be by force. Taiwan will not be able to stop it.
Taiwan says has begun mass production of long-range missiles: Distance from Three Gorges Dam to Taiwan, 1,262km
That is the number 1 target.
If that goes theres nothing they can do to stop it.
Personally i rooted for the floods to take it out. They almost did.
Definitely what they are inferring as a target...
Formosa might end up losing the war, but the Formosans will take 15-million chicoms and the chicoms two major seaports with them...
Just a couple of decent size missiles on target will do the job...
Bet they will fire a salvo of about 10-15 to the target... Playing the odds...
If anyone were to blow up that dam, they would be guilty of a final solution level war crime. Its not going to happen.
The Yangtze has run dry. Wuhan has a new desert in the riverbed.
For the dam to be an effective target, it needs water behind it.
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