SCMP: Taiwan plans to test Patriot missiles

[bich dao <daotb@yahoo.com>]

Saturday, August 28, 1999

Taiwan plans to test Patriot missiles

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE in Linyuan

Taiwan is preparing a live-fire test of US-made Patriot missile weaponry
amid calls for the establishment of a nationwide low-altitude missile
shield and increased expenditure to counter any threat from the
mainland. 

"The three Patriot batteries now serving
the army have been verified by the United States . . . after they passed
mock tests," said Major-General Wang Chao-tai, commander of a Tien Kung
(Sky Bow) missile base in the southern county of Kaohsiung. 

"We're working to prepare for a live-fire
test."

But mindful of the tensions with Beijing following President Lee
Teng-hui's statehood claim, General Wang said a
"live-fire test would be conducted only
after US approval". 

Defying Beijing's anger, Washington sold three batteries to Taiwan in
1993.  The three units have been put into service to defend the greater
Taipei area. 

General Wang would not say if Taiwan planned to buy more Patriot
batteries, saying it would depend on the defence budget and political
considerations. 

Local media have said Taiwan has plans to procure up to six batteries,
improved versions of ones they already have. 

General Wang made the remarks during the first media tour of the Tien
Kung missile base, a move the state-funded Central News Agency said
would help boost public confidence when Beijing repeatedly said it would
not renounce the option of force against the island. 

"Our major task is to safeguard the
southern area," General Wang said. 

The base sits atop a hill overlooking the greater Kaohsiung area, which
houses the island's leading steel and shipbuilding plants and the prime
naval base. 

The underground missile cells, each housing four home-made Tien Kung
ground-to-air missiles, is protected by a concrete wall, a metre in
width. 

General Wang said the weaponry was not designed to shoot incoming
ballistic missiles.  The home-made Tien Kung II missile has a range of
200km, twice that of the Tien Kung I.

Taiwanese Defence Minister Tang Fei, who announced last week that Taipei
planned to build a low-altitude missile shield, called yesterday for
increased spending to protect the island. 

"According to our estimate, military
spending has to go up to account for at least three to 3.5 per cent of
the gross domestic product," Mr Tang said.  The ratio now stands at
around 2.6 per cent. 





__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?  Bid and sell for free at http://auctions.yahoo.com