The Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology is to test-fire some of its missile systems from a military base in the south later this month, it said in a notice issued on Wednesday last week.
The tests are to be conducted on March 28 and 29 at the Jioupeng military base in Pingtung County, the institute said, but declined to provide further details.
The institute did not specify what type of missiles would be tested, but it warned aircraft and ships of a danger zone radius of up to 17 nautical miles (31.5km) and an “unlimited” maximum projectile altitude.
Photo: Tsai Tsung-hsien , Taipei Times
Defense experts said the “unlimited” projectile altitude warning implies that the institute might be testing its long-range indigenous missiles.
Earlier this week, the Ministry of National Defense said in a written report to the legislature that the institute would soon complete a project to upgrade and expand its missile manufacturing facilities, which would significantly increase its production capability.
Over the past three years, NT$7 billion (US$246.5 million) has been spent on the project, which is aimed at upgrading 80 facilities for missile development and production by the institute, a corporation that was established by the government for military research and development, the report said.
The upgrading of 50 of the facilities has been completed, and the others would be finished by June, the ministry said in the report.
Completion of work on all 80 facilities would boost the institute’s production of the indigenous Tien Kung (Sky Bow), Tien Chien (Sky Sword) and Hsiung Feng (Brave Wind) missiles, the report said.
The institute currently produces 20 Hsiung Feng III supersonic anti-ship missiles per year, 40 Tien Chien II ship-launched/land-based missiles and 48 Tien Kung III surface-to-air missile systems, the ministry said.
The upgraded facilities would boost annual production to 150 Tien Chien II missiles, 96 Tien Kung III and 70 Hsiung Feng III, a model that reportedly has a maximum range of 400km and capability to strike China, the ministry said.
‘DENIAL DEFENSE’: The US would increase its military presence with uncrewed ships, and submarines, while boosting defense in the Indo-Pacific, a Pete Hegseth memo said The US is reorienting its military strategy to focus primarily on deterring a potential Chinese invasion of Taiwan, a memo signed by US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth showed. The memo also called on Taiwan to increase its defense spending. The document, known as the “Interim National Defense Strategic Guidance,” was distributed this month and detailed the national defense plans of US President Donald Trump’s administration, an article in the Washington Post said on Saturday. It outlines how the US can prepare for a potential war with China and defend itself from threats in the “near abroad,” including Greenland and the Panama
A magnitude 4.9 earthquake struck off Tainan at 11:47am today, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. The hypocenter was 32.3km northeast of Tainan City Hall at a depth of 7.3km, CWA data showed. The intensity of the quake, which gauges the actual effect of a seismic event, measured 4 in Tainan and Chiayi County on Taiwan's seven-tier intensity scale, the data showed. The quake had an intensity of 3 in Chiayi City and County, and Yunlin County, while it was measured as 2 in Kaohsiung, Nantou County, Changhua County, Taitung County and offshore Penghu County, the data showed. There were no immediate reports of
The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) is maintaining close ties with Beijing, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) said yesterday, hours after a new round of Chinese military drills in the Taiwan Strait began. Political parties in a democracy have a responsibility to be loyal to the nation and defend its sovereignty, DPP spokesman Justin Wu (吳崢) told a news conference in Taipei. His comments came hours after Beijing announced via Chinese state media that the Chinese People’s Liberation Army’s Eastern Theater Command was holding large-scale drills simulating a multi-pronged attack on Taiwan. Contrary to the KMT’s claims that it is staunchly anti-communist, KMT Deputy
RESPONSE: The government would investigate incidents of Taiwanese entertainers in China promoting CCP propaganda online in contravention of the law, the source said Taiwanese entertainers living in China who are found to have contravened cross-strait regulations or collaborated with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) could be subject to fines, a source said on Sunday. Several Taiwanese entertainers have posted on the social media platform Sina Weibo saying that Taiwan “must be returned” to China, and sharing news articles from Chinese state media. In response, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) has asked the Ministry of Culture to investigate whether the entertainers had contravened any laws, and asked for them to be questioned upon their return to Taiwan, an official familiar with the matter said. To curb repeated
RSS