China Shows Off DF-15 SRBMs Deployed Near Taiwan
May 4, 2004 :: East Asia Intel :: News
China is “showing off” some of its many short-range ballistic missiles deployed off the coast of Taiwan, with a April 29 publication of DF-15 (CSS-6) pictures in the official military newspaper, PLA Daily, reports East Asia Intel.
Although the missiles are short-range (600km), the paper pointedly describes them as “strategic,” indicative of the importance China attaches to Taiwan. The PLA Daily identifies the missiles as belonging to China’s Second Artillery Corps.
The publication comes weeks before the May 20 inauguration of Taiwanese President Chen. (Article, Link)
» NYT, May 5, 2004: China displays warships in Hong Kong harbor
» More stories on: China, Taiwan
» Missile details: CSS-6
U.S. to Sell Defensive Radar to Taiwan; China Denounces
April 2, 2004 :: Straits Times :: News
Taiwan is preparing to buy a long-range ground-based early-warning radar from the United States which would allow Taiwan to detect Chinese missile launches.
Since the announcement of the sale on Tuesday, China has been attacking the sale, worth some 1.78 billion. “We have always opposed US sales of advanced weapons to Taiwan,” said Kong Quan, a foreign ministry spokesman. A State Department spokesman defended the sale by noting that the radars are “inherently defensive.” The sale had originally been approved by the Clinton administration in 1999.
China’s irritation stems from the fact that any effective defenses which could be used to deter China could then be use to assure a formal declaration of independence by the island. (Article, Link)
» Financial Times on Taiwan sale, Chinese denunciation
» Apr. 1, 2004: Taiwan establishes Missile Command
» More stories on: China, Taiwan
Taiwan Missile Development in Response to Chinese Buildup
April 2, 2004 :: Reuters :: News
Taiwan is reportedly planning to produce 150 missiles capable of striking targets within China, according to a recent issue of Jane’s Missiles and Rockets—30 medium-range and 120 short-range—which will be based on Taiwan’s existing Tien Kung surface-to air missile. Taiwan may also produce some 500 land-attack cruise missiles with a range of 1,500 km, which would be based on the existing Hsiung Feng (Brave Wind) anti-ship missile.
The effort is said to take place over the next decade, which means that by the time the force is deployed, it would still be dwarfed by that of Communist China. Currently, China has at least 500 short-range missiles near Taiwan alone (distinct from its longer range missiles aimed at the United States), and continues its buildup at the rate of 75 additional missiles per year. Supposing China does not increase the rate of its short-range missile buildup, there would be some 1250 missiles offshore Taiwan within the same ten years. Nevertheless, Taiwan’s own missile development is salutary, and should conduce to both deterring mainland China and the defense of Taiwanese independence. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: China, Taiwan
Taiwan Missile Defense Referendum Gets 90% of Vote, But Doesn’t Pass Due to Turnout
March 21, 2004 :: Taiwan News :: News
On March 20, Taiwan held its first-ever referenda in conjunction with the presidential election, one of which concerned the deployment of further missile defenses should China fail to withdraw its missile buildup near Taiwan. Although the missile defense referendum is not legally binding due to a technicality (only 45% of eligible voters participated, 50% is required to be binding), the overwhelming majority of the voters who did participate (90%) were in favor of the missile defense resolution, which read as follows:
The People of Taiwan demand that the Taiwan Strait issue be resolved through peaceful means. Should Mainland China refuse to withdraw the missiles it has targeted at Taiwan and to openly renounce the use of force against us, would you agree that the Government should acquire more advanced anti-missile weapons to strengthen Taiwan’s self-defense capabilities?
(More »»»)
» U.S. to sponsor UN resolution condemning Chinese human rights abuses
» Chen presidential acceptance speech
» Press conference for foreign press
» More stories on: China, Policy, Taiwan
Chinese Assassination Attempt?: Taiwan President Shot on Day Before Election, Missile Defense Referendum
March 19, 2004 :: Financial Times :: News
One day before the Taiwanese presidential election and referendum, which asks voters whether the island nation should deploy missile defenses in response to the continued Chinese missile buildup, Taiwanese president Chen is shot while campaigning. Fortunately he was only wounded, having been shot in the stomach.
If not directly the work of Beijing, China is likely pleased by the turn of events. China has been bullying Taiwan for months, unhappy with Taiwanese efforts to deploy missile defenses to defend themselves. Only yesterday, Bill Gertz reported in the Washington Times that China has tested “at least” five missiles since January, in anticipation of the referendum. And on Tuesday, China will be holding a large naval exercise with France, which is also perceived by Taiwan as an attempt at intimidation.
Tomorrow’s election and referendum will determine whether the Taiwanese, like the Spanish, can be bullied into becoming doormats. Or will this attack embolden them against their communist aggressors to the north? (Article, Link)
» BBC: China plans large naval exercise, Taiwan views as intimidation
» More stories on: China, Taiwan
Chinese Bullying Continues: Five Missile Tests in Advance of Taiwan Referendum
March 18, 2004 :: Washington Times :: News
U.S. intelligence officials report that China has carried “at least” five missile tests since January, according to Bill Gertz in the Washington Times. The report comes just two days before Taiwan conducts its referendum on missile defense.
The five tests are said to have included four types of missiles, the medium-range DF-21, the long-range DF-31, and the short-range DF-11 and DF-15. The missiles are all said to have been launched from the Wuzhai missile testing center in central China, and were directed toward the western part of the country.
China currently has about 500 missiles within range of Taiwan, a number which continues to increase at a rate of 75 per year.
“These tests make a mockery of all the efforts made by Washington to suppress the Taiwan missile referendum,” said Richard Fisher, a specialist on the Chinese military with the Center for Security Policy. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: China, Proliferation, Taiwan
Russia Opposes Taiwan Independence
March 17, 2004 :: Gateway to Russia :: News
On strategic Russia and China continue to exhibit a united front against the United States.
Secretary of the Russian Security Council Igor Ivanov announced today to Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Dai Bingguo that Russia opposes Taiwan independence and supports Chinese efforts to subordinate the island to Communist rule. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: China, Russia, Taiwan
Aegis Sale to Taiwan Initially Approved
March 8, 2004 :: Inside the Ring (Washington Times) :: News
In the weekly Inside the Ring, Bill Gertz and Rowan Scarborough note that the Pentagon has now for the first time approved the sale of the Aegis cruiser battle-management systems, which include the sea-based missile defense program.
As noted here, the Aegis system includes a large phased-array radar with a range to track objects of some hundreds of miles, and include satellites in space. The Aegis is described as the “core” of the sea-based missile defense system, now set to be deployed for the defense of America in 2005.
The approved sale comes less than two weeks before the March 20 referendum in Taiwan over whether missile defenses are the right response to the nearby Chinese missile buildup. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: Allies, Policy, Sea-Based Systems, Taiwan
» Missile system details for: Aegis Ship-Based BMD
Taiwan to Purchase and Deploy Six Patriot Batteries by 2019—But Are They Enough?
March 3, 2004 :: Taiwan News :: News
Previous reports indicated that Taiwan would proceed with the purchase of three batteries of PAC-3 Patriot missile interceptors, but a news item by the Taiwan News now suggests that that number will increase, to six batteries, consisting of four launchers, which in turn each have 16 interceptor missiles. The plan is said to involve the deployment of the said batteries within 15 years, that is, by 2019.
The larger purchase would not, however, represent a complete defense of Taiwan against the considerable and growing Chinese threat. Even the larger purchase would mean only an additional 240 interceptors. Such a defense pales in comparison to the over 500 short range ballistic missiles China already has deployed near the coast of Taiwan, a number which increases at a rate of 75 to 100 per year. Currently, Taiwan is believed to have some 32 of the less advanced PAC-2 interceptors, spread between two batteries. Supposing China’s rate of increase was to hold steady at 75 per year, then by the time the six new batteries of PAC-3 are deployed by 2019, China could have 1,625 SRBMs with which to threaten their island neighbor. Against these, Taiwan could have only 416.
Although the 2019 deadline is somewhat late, a defense which consists of Aegis sea-based defenses as well, with additional interceptors there, would help narrow the gap. (Article, Link)
» Feb. 19, 2004: Despite Chinese bullying, Taiwan to proceed with Patriot BMD
» Jul. 24, 2003: Taiwan requests 3 batteries of PAC-3
» Mar. 3, 2004: Sale of Aegis to Taiwan approved
» More stories on: China, Policy, Taiwan
» Missile system details for: Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3)
Blank on China-Taiwan Arms Race
February 24, 2004 :: Asia Times :: Analysis
Stephen Blank on the “arms race” brewing in the Taiwan Strait, provoked in large measure by Chinese buildup of some 500 short range missiles of the coast of Taiwan. Blank speculates that due to the buildup, hostility in the region is becoming more likely. (Article, Link)
» July 23, 2003: Blank on Proliferation by China and North Korea
» More stories on: China, Taiwan
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