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US to share early-warning missile data with Taiwan

The US has agreed to "conditionally" share its military satellite data with Taiwan, it was reported yesterday.

Once linked to the US satellite system codenamed "Defense Support Project" (DSP), Taiwan would be able to allow up to seven more minutes in advance while its Patriot anti-missile weaponry prepared to intercept any incoming missiles, a local Chinese-language newspaper said.

It said the Taiwan military plans to set up ground stations over the next five years to plug Taiwan Patriot systems to the US military satellite system.

The Taiwan defense ministry was tight-lipped on the reported military cooperative project, a move Beijing may interpret as a further step towards a military alliance between the US and Taiwan which it regards as part of its territory.

But Minister of National Defense Tang Yao-ming (湯曜明) told the legislature yesterday "it would be his pleasure to see the development," without providing details.

Washington is Taiwan's leading arms supplier.

In July, the Pentagon made public a report in which the US questioned China's commitment to a peaceful resolution of its differences with Taiwan.

The report broke new ground by emphasizing that China was exploring strategies that would use missile strikes, blockades and even cyberwarfare, rather than a D-Day-style invasion, to bring Taiwan to heel.

It said the People's Liberation Army has deployed 350 ballistic missiles targeting Taiwan, with the number expected to increase at a rate of 50 a year.

Last year, US President George W. Bush caused a furor in China by saying that the US would do whatever it takes to defend Taiwan.
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