AFP:Taiwan plans live-testing of patriot missile

[bich dao <daotb@yahoo.com>]

AUG 28 1999

Taiwan plans live-testing of Patriot missile

LINYUAN (Taiwan) -- Taiwan plans a live-fire test of US-made Patriot
missile weaponry amid calls for the establishment of a nationwide
low-altitude missile shield to counter any threat from China's missile
programme. 

"The three Patriot batteries have...passed
mock tests," said Major-General Wang Chao-tai, the commander of a Sky
Bow missile base in the southern county of Kaohsiung.  "We're working to
prepare for a live-fire test." But mindful of the current tension with
China, he said a "live-fire test would be conducted only after US
approval". 

According to defence sources, if the test is approved, it would be the
first time any Patriot is being live-tested outside the US. 

Defying Beijing's anger, the US sold three PAC-II batteries to Taiwan in
1993.  These have been put into service to defend the populous Greater
Taipei Area. 

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

Local media have said that the island plans to procure up to six
batteries of PAC-III, the improved version of PAC-II, to protect
built-up areas in central and southern Taiwan. 

Maj-Gen Wang made the remarks at the first opening of the Sky Bow
missile base to the media, a move which the state-funded Central News
Agency said would help boost public confidence.  The Sky Bow II missile,
brainchild of the Chungshan Institute of Science of Technology, has a
range of 200 km, twice that of the Sky Bow I.

Maj-Gen Wang said that the Sky Bow had been deployed at six army bases,
two of which are in offshore islands.  Meanwhile, the Taipei Times
reported yesterday that the Executive Yuan passed the draft of the
Organisation Law of the Defence Ministry on Thursday in a move to
improve the ministry's organisation. 

Under the draft law, the military administration and command system will
be unified.  The army, navy, air force, and combined services force
general headquarters will come under the jurisdiction of the ministry,
instead of being attached to the general staff headquarters. 

The ministry will expand from its current six departments to 10.  The
defence mechanism will consist of the President, the National Security
Council, the Executive Yuan and the Defence Ministry. 
-- AFP


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