Technical problems were to blame for the failure of a recent test-firing of a domestically-developed surface-to-surface missile, defense sources said yesterday.
The test took place in late August at a top security military site in Chiupeng, Pingtung County, where the military regularly launches tests of weapon systems under development.
It was the missile's first test firing following years of development by the military's Chung Shan Institute of Science and Technology (CSIST).
The surface-to-surface missile development program, code-named "Difeng (狄風)," has been in operation for more than five years and was created as a response to missile threats from China.
A Chinese-language newspaper, quoting anonymous sources, said yesterday that the surface-to-surface missile was designed to have a range of 900km, capable of reaching Shanghai and Hong Kong.
The Ministry of National Defense did not confirm or deny the report. The ministry is known to strongly deny reports it considers false.
A consensus is now forming in the military as to the development of offensive weapons to deter China from attacking Taiwan, with many in the military believing that defensive weapons would not be effective in repelling a Chinese attack.
During the 1996 Taiwan Strait crisis, the military was almost totally defenseless in the face of China's missile tests off Taiwan.
Since then, the military has devoted itself to secretly developing offensive weapons. Up to date, it has successfully developed a ballistic missile with a range of 300km and a cruise missile with a 1,000km range.
The Difeng project marks efforts by the military to develop a long-range missile without violating international restrictions on ballistic missiles with a range of more than 300km.
Chang Li-teh (張立德), a senior editor with the Defense Technology Monthly magazine, said the Difeng surface-to-surface missile should not be limited in range because it is not a ballistic missile.
"According to information made public by the [a Chinese-language newspaper], the missile has to be greatly improved before it becomes a real threat to China," Chang said.
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